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As Annie said: tell me why?
By Huge Paton, Anniesland College
GTC Scotland registration is a requirement for teachers but not for lecturers in FE? Why?
The odds are, if you're in FE and reading this, you are one of more than 800 lecturers who currently choose to be a member of GTC Scotland. Tell me why?
I'm sure there are other things that could be bought with the fee.
The EIS Further Education Lecturers' Association, and the EIS, have clearly stated over a number of years that they want GTC Scotland to be the Professional Regulatory Body for FE and, from discussions, FE appears to want GTC Scotland. So why hasn't it happened?
While some want it, and some don't, the decision apparently is not with us but with others. Who?
Are the differences legitimate?
We in FE deliver, very successfully, post-16 National Certificate through Higher National with wide Industrial, Commercial and International activity.
Like Secondary Education, we support School College Partnerships with school pupils attending college and college lecturers delivering in schools.
Like Secondary Education, we deliver the Higher programme and are involved in CfE.
So who or what is blocking GTC Scotland Regulation for FE?
Is it because FE are 'teach first' with not all lecturers coming to FE with a teaching qualification? Lecturers do have high academic qualifications, often including industrial and commercial experience, but some may have to undertake their Teaching Qualification (FE) 'in-service'.
However FE Lecturers are members of the 'teaching profession'. They can join a 'teaching union'; they can join the Teachers Pension Scheme and, yes, they can register with GTC Scotland. However, there seem to be some hot issues in providing GTC Scotland Regulation for FE.
With the current demands over Professional Standards, GTC Scotland membership could be considered an opportunity for Colleges to demonstrate an internationally recognised professional standing for their lecturing staff, if they really want to take it! So tell me why Scotland's Colleges aren't arguing this?
I'm aware of one College offering to pay the first year GTC Scotland registration fee and another that supports the Enhanced Disclosure fee element, but where do Scotland's Colleges and the Scottish Government stand on this?
All stakeholders should be working together towards a single coherent and independent body that helps ensure those teaching in Scottish education, no matter what sector, have and maintain agreed Professional Standards; and GTC Scotland is well established to be that independent body.
As John F Kennedy said: "So, let us not be blind to our differences - but let us also direct attention to our common interests and to the means by which those differences can be resolved."