Board ruled one teacher unfit for job

ONE Tasmanian teacher was determined as of bad character and unfit to teach by the state’s Teachers Registration Board last year.

A further 19 teachers worked with conditions applied to their registration — including four because they had committed an offence that could have landed them in prison — and six were found to be working without registration.

Of those six, one received a caution and two were given a caution and received ongoing monitoring.

A Teachers Registration Board spokesman said: “Conditions can be applied to the registration of a teacher for a number of reasons.

“A common reason is to assist a teacher in upskilling to meet certain Australian professional standards for teachers.

“Upon being satisfied that the condition has been met, the board will withdraw the condition.”

The Teachers Registration Board annual report showed the body received four complaints in 2017 with two matters carried over from 2016.

Four of those complaints were dismissed by the board with two referred to another agency and the remainder considered not in the public interest.

It also held eight inquiries, in which a board member and two working teachers appointed by the board chairman examined a person’s professional conduct.

One person was found unfit to teach and “not of good character”, one had their registration cancelled and another was cautioned and had conditions applied against their registration.

One teacher’s registration was suspended because the board believed that person could pose a risk to students but it was awaiting a court outcome.

Three inquiries were still under way in 2017 and one was on hold.

There were 11,294 teachers in Tasmania as of November 22, 2017.