21st Century Teachers for a 21st Century Education System

The 21st Century teacher is vital to reforming and propelling our education system forward.

That was the message from the Education Minister, Caitríona Ruane, as she addressed teaching students from St Mary’s University College. Speaking about the event, which had the theme of ‘The 21st Century Teacher’, the Minister said: “Teachers are the key to pushing the education system into the 21st Century and enabling it to cope with the challenges that will face our young people in the modern world.

“My role as Minister is to reform the education system so that it is robust, flexible and has the ability to meet teachers’ needs. My Department has embarked on a series of reforms which aim to put equality at the centre of education; the Education and Skills Authority; Transfer 2010; the School Improvement Policy; the Revised Curriculum; Literacy and Numeracy Strategy; the Review of Special Educational Needs and Inclusion and the Entitlement Framework.

“Central to all of these reforms will be the future practitioners and the existing workforce – teachers are at the heart of our education system and it is they who encourage and motivate our children to achieve more. Through these reforms, and with the dedication of governors, principals and their staff in thousands of classrooms right across the north, we can raise standards, tackle underachievement and truly move the education system into the 21st century.”

Notes to editors:

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