Employment and Learning Minister Dr Stephen Farry has today (Monday, 30 September 2013) announced the other members of the review Panel of education experts to take forward the review of teacher training infrastructure in Northern Ireland.
The announcement follows the earlier appointment of Dr Pasi Sahlberg as Chair of the Panel.
The panel members are:
- Patricia Broadfoot, CBE, currently Professor of Education at the University of Bristol
- Dr. John Coolahan, Professor Emeritus at the National University of Ireland Maynooth
- Professor John Furlong, former Director of the Oxford University Department of Education
- Gordon Kirk, OBE, Emeritus Professor of Education at the University of Edinburgh and Academic Secretary to the Universities’ Council for the Education of Teachers.
The Minister said: “Dr Sahlberg and his colleagues will examine the case for the reform of teacher education provision in Northern Ireland, based on best international practice.
“Following on from Stage One of the Review of the Teacher Training Infrastructure which highlighted that the current system is not financially sustainable, this Stage will develop options for a more shared and integrated delivery and funding system which draws upon and is informed by international best practice.
“This panel brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to their task, and they will engage with the key stakeholders, including the current five teacher training providers, and seek a consensus on the configuration that best maximises educational best practice, financial affordability and sustainability, and sharing in the training of teachers to best reflect a much more diverse Northern Ireland.”
The establishment of the Panel is the second stage of the review into the teacher training infrastructure. The first part of the study comprised of a report released in May which involved an objective analysis of the financial stability, the various funding streams and sustainability of the two university colleges.
The Panel will report its findings in 2014.
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