With a background in classroom teaching, almost all of my work, both teaching and research, focuses on the classroom. After having some conversations with teachers about teacher diversity in Northern Ireland it became clear that teachers in schools were teaching students about diversity in the classroom through Areas of Learning which spanned all Key Stages - Personal Development and Mutual Understanding (KS1 and 2) and Learning for Life and Work (KS3 and 4). However teacher diversity was something which many teachers felt hadn’t been given much thought.

All teachers who wish to work in publicly funded schools in Northern Ireland must register with the Teaching Council Northern Ireland. The Council examines the qualifications of teachers qualified outside Northern Ireland, and usually identifies 'shortfalls' that must be addressed prior to full registration. We don’t currently have an overview of the teaching population in terms of teacher diversity or where they received their initial teacher qualification. The registration process is not transparent and those registering are often met with lots of red tape, irrespective of their prior experience.

I teamed with the Marino Institute of Education in Dublin and we put together a research proposal which aims to look at the experiences of internationally educated teachers in Northern Ireland. The research study, funded by SCoTENS, seeks to capture the views and experiences of migrants who are currently living in Northern Ireland and who have a teaching qualification obtained outside of NI.

experiences of migrants who are currently living in Northern Ireland and who have a teaching qualification obtained outside of NI.

The overall aim of the study is to map the experiences of those arriving in NI with an international teaching qualification. This mapping will allow us to have baseline data on the teaching population and the increase the participation of Immigrant Internationally Educated Teachers (IIETs) in Northern Irish primary and post-primary schools.

To inform that mapping we are asking all those eligible to complete an online survey (15 minutes in length) regarding their experiences of registration and recruitment into the teaching workforce. All participation is very much appreciated and will enable the mapping of experiences of migrant teachers as they seek to continue their work in Northern Ireland.

FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR THE SURVEY (closing 14 April 2022)

The project builds on work completed in Ireland, in particular the Migrant Teacher Project. That project aims to aid those arriving in Ireland with a teaching qualification. It also offers a Bridging Programme to further enhance such teachers' professional development and provide opportunities to securing employment.

Dr Jennifer Roberts

School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work

Media

Recommended Reference:

Roberts, J. 2022. Collecting the views and experiences of migrant teachers in NI.  Blog post for 'Queen's on Ethnic Minorities in Northern Ireland'.