Page last updated: Thursday 2 July, 2009 4:15 PM

 

 

 

 

 

 

Raising the bar...?

A recent government white paper on education will mean that teachers in England will need a licence to work in the school classroom. This opens the debate on whether Rehabilitation Specialists should also be required to have their practice 'assessed' more closely.

 

 

 

Under the plans, teachers will need to have their licence renewed every five years if they are to continue in their profession. According to Children's Secretary Ed Balls, it is the government's intention to 'weed out' weak teachers.

Would this approach work in our profession? It is an idea that has been muted for at least 20 years and is currently implemented in many states in the US. While there are obvious questions - who would operate the licensing? what areas of rehabilitation would it cover? what happens if someone 'fails'? - the principal of endorsement of one's practice could be good thing for the profession as a whole.

Chris Keates of the NASUWT said the licensing scheme would give teachers "the long overdue recognition that it is a high status qualification" - isn't this what Rehabilitation Specialists have craved all these years?

Due to the safety implications, perhaps the obvious discipline to start with would be a licence to teach Orientation & Mobility - those receiving a service would know they are being taught by a professional and employers would benefit from the knowledge their employees are up-to-date with the subject.

Expansion of the licence could include the teaching of living skills, Braille and communication technology - these could be added in the same way a motorbike or HGV category is added to an existing driver's licence.

It would focus the attention of training providers to develop a more robust professional development programme that includes employment, Low Vision services and other associated fields.

Is this a reasonable way forward?

 

Let us know your opinion by e-mailing info@rehabworker.co.uk

 

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