ACT considers extending teacher registration to ECTs, input from the sector needed

Early childhood teachers (ECTs) in the nation’s capital may soon need to be registered teachers, something the Independent Education Union (IEU) says would demonstrate the important role ECTs play as professionals and significant influencers on the learning and development outcomes of children. 

The union’s position has always been that “Teachers are Teachers” and ECTs should be accredited in the same way as their peers in schools, given that they are university trained and dedicated to the educational development of young children.

In the ACT the teacher registration process is managed by the Teacher Quality Institute (TQI). The TQI Teacher Registration Committee is currently considering extending the teacher registration model to accept all qualified ECTs, in line with NSW where all early childhood teachers are accredited with NESA.

Professional registration, the IEU said, will build on the professionalism of the sector, will raise the profile of ECTs and provide a valued and qualified workforce that underpins quality early childhood education.

During the consultation process, TQI is using a series of virtual consultation sessions to gather views on how ECT registration may work in practice and seeking input from anyone in the ACT interested in ECT registration.

As such, the TQI Teacher Registration Board invites ECTs living or working in the ACT to one its 90-minute virtual consultation sessions to share r views on how ECT Registration may work in practice.

“You do not need to be an expert on teacher registration,” a TQI spokesperson clarified. “It is your experience with early childhood education and care that counts.”