Teachers Council sticks to decisions on staff with convictions

Bill English

The Teachers Council is to review whether its processes can be improved after criticism of decisions it made in the cases of 13 teachers with convictions for assault and drug importing and an admission of sexual abuse.

But it will not revisit its decisions to allow the teachers to remain registered or reveal the teachers or schools involved in the cases.

Its chairwoman, Joanna Beresford, said criticism of its decisions was ill-informed and the council's priority was a safe environment for pupils.

After meeting Education Minister Steve Maharey yesterday, it will do a limited review on whether any conditions placed on those teachers, such as supervision or a full disclosure of background details to employers, were fully met.

It would also provide recommendations on whether improvements could be made to the system of vetting and disciplining teachers.

Mr Maharey said the Privacy Act prevented the release of the details of at least 13 teachers revealed in the Herald on Sunday, which included a teacher who admitted sexually abusing his 15-year-old niece, another with convictions for assault and one with a conviction for importing Ecstasy from London.

Opposition education spokesman Bill English said the council needed to raise the standards it expected of teachers or it would lose parents' trust.

"At the moment decisions made by the Teachers Council do not reflect the expectations of parents. Nor do they reflect the professional standards of the vast majority of teachers.

"The council needs to lift its standards so that parents can have confidence in the professionalism and character of the person at the front of the classroom every time."

Ms Beresford said its processes were robust and fair and the public could have confidence in its judgment.

It ensured that children were safe and that teachers had a fair hearing.

"The council has stringent measures to ensure that teachers who are granted registration or renewal of their practising certificates are not only appropriately trained and qualified, but are also of good character and fit to be a teacher."

PPTA president Debbie te Whaiti said the secondary teachers' union had no more information on the individual cases than the public had, so could not comment. But the council's assurances had to be taken on trust.

"There has obviously been some concern, parents will be concerned and the council needs to answer those concerns, but they can't be answered by re-litigating the cases or exposing the teachers to further intense scrutiny."

She said forcing a full review of the cases or revealing details of the teachers and schools in question would undermine confidence in the council.

"It is important that the council is seen to be fair by all sectors of the community, including the teachers who are registered and deregistered by it. There cannot be any political interference in it."

Ms Beresford said teachers had to agree to a police vetting. If any questions were asked about the person's fitness to be a teacher, the council did a thorough investigation.

In the classroom

Since 2002, the Teachers Council has registered teachers who have:
* Convictions for battery of an 11-year-old.
* Convictions for importing Ecstasy and supplying cannabis to minors.
* Admitted stealing school funds to spend on themselves.
* Admitted having sex with students.
* Admitted sexually abusing a minor.