RSNL1990 CHAPTER T-1 - TEACHER TRAINING ACT

RSNL1990 CHAPTER T-1 TEACHER TRAINING ACT Amended: 1996 cR-10.1 s72; 1996 cS-12.1 s120; 1997 cS-12.2 s128; 2001 c27; 2013 c25 s14; 2023 c18 s48 CHAPTER T-1 AN ACT RESPECTING THE TRAINING AND CLASSIFICATION OF TEACHERS Analysis 1. Short title 2. Interpretation 3. Review panel 4. Terms and conditions of appointment 5. Cancellation or suspension of certificate 6. Registrar of Teachers 7. Duties of registrar 8. Teachers' Certification Committee 9. Rep. by 2001 c27 s2 10. Suspension of certificate or licence 11. Regulations 12. Committee to advise registrar 13. Review 14. Board of appeals 15. Review by appeals board 16. Regulations 17. Training institutions 18. Certificate or licence required 19. Effective date 20. Capacity of minor Short title 1. This Act may be cited as the Teacher Training Act. RSN1970 c103 s1 Back to Top Interpretation 2. (1) In this Act (a) [Rep. by 1996 cS-12.1 s120] (b) "certificate" means a certificate prescribed by regulation; (c) "certification" means the holding of a certificate of grade prescribed by the regulations; (d) "committee " means the Teachers' Certification Committee established under section 8; (e) [Rep. by 1996 cS-12.1 s120] (f) "department" means the department presided over by the minister; (g) "division" means a group of grades taught in a school and into which the school grades are divided, including primary division, elementary division, junior high division and senior high division; (h) "licence" means a licence prescribed by the regulations; (i) "minister" means the minister appointed under the Executive Council Act to administer this Act; (j) [Rep. by 1996 cS-12.1 s120] (k) "registrar" means the Registrar of Teachers appointed under section 6; (k.1) "review panel" means the certification review panel appointed under section 3; and (l) " student teacher" means a candidate for a certificate or licence; (2) [Rep. by 1996 cS-12.1 s120] RSN1970 c103 s2; 1973 No35 Sch 1983 c43 Sch 1989 c32 s1; 1996 cS-12.1 s120 Back to Top Review panel 3. The minister shall appoint a certification review panel comprising 3 members (a) one of whom shall be a member of the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers Association; (b) one of whom shall be a member of the Newfoundland and Labrador School Boards Association; and (c) one of whom shall be a representative of the general public. 1996 cS-12.1 s120 Back to Top Terms and conditions of appointment 4. The minister may determine the terms of office and the terms and conditions of appointment, and the appointment of replacement members of the review panel. 1996 cS-12.1 s120 Back to Top Cancellation or suspension of certificate 5. (1) The review panel may suspend or cancel the certificate or licence of a teacher who is guilty of gross misconduct, incompetence or for other just cause. (2) The department may recommend to the review panel the suspension or cancellation of the certificate or licence of a teacher who is guilty of gross misconduct, incompetence or for other just cause. (3) For the purpose of subsection (2), a teacher includes a director or an assistant director as defined in the Schools Act, 1997. 1996 cS-12.1 s120 ; 1997 cS-12.2 s128 ; 2001 c27 s1 ; 2013 c25 s14 ; 2023 c18 s48 Back to Top Registrar of Teachers 6. There shall be a Registrar of Teachers to be appointed by the minister. RSN1970 c103 s7 Back to Top Duties of registrar 7. The registrar shall (a) examine applications for teachers' certificates and licences and issue certificates and licences in accordance with this Act and the regulations; (b) keep and maintain the records of and respecting teachers that the minister may direct; (c) act as a member of the committee; and (d) [Rep. by 1996 cS-12.1 s120] (e) perform other functions and duties that the minister assigns to him or her. RSN1970 c103 s8; 1973 No98 s3; 1996 cS-12.1 s120 Back to Top Teachers' Certification Committee 8. (1) There shall be a Teachers' Certification Committee, the membership of which shall consist of (a) the registrar; (b) [Rep. by 1996 cS-12.1 s120] (c) an officer of the department nominated by the minister and appointed a member by the Lieutenant-Governor in Council; and (d) 6 other persons appointed by the Lieutenant-Governor in Council, 2 of whom shall be representative of the Faculty of Education of the Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2 of whom shall be representative of the Newfoundland Teachers' Association referred to in the Teachers' Association Act and the other 2 of whom shall be representative of the Federation of School Boards of Newfoundland. (2) [Rep. by 1996 cS-12.1 s120] (3) For each of the 6 members appointed under paragraph (1 )( d) (a) the Dean of the Faculty of Education of the Memorial University of Newfoundland; (b) the executive of the Newfoundland Teachers' Association; or (c) the Federation of School Boards of Newfoundland, may appoint an alternate member who, in the absence of the member for whom he or she is the alternate member, may act on the committee for and in the place of that member, and during that absence the alternate member has and may exercise the powers and carry out the duties of that member with respect to the committee. (4) The officer appointed under paragraph (1 )( c) shall be chairperson of the committee and the members of the committee shall select 1 of their number to be vice-chairperson. (5) The chairperson or, in his or her absence, the vice-chairperson shall preside at meetings of the committee, and his or her decision on points of order is final. (6) Where both the chairperson and the vice-chairperson are absent from a meeting of the committee, the other members of the committee present shall appoint a temporary chairperson who has and may exercise the powers and shall carry out the duties of the chairperson at the meeting. (7) A member of the committee appointed under paragraph (1 )( c) or (d) shall hold office during pleasure. (8) A majority of the members of the committee shall constitute a quorum. (9) Where, at a meeting of the committee, there is an equality of votes inclusive of his or her own vote, the presiding member of the committee at that meeting has a 2nd or casting vote. (10) Where a vacancy occurs in the membership of the committee because of the death, resignation, illness or for another reason of a member referred to in paragraph (1 )( c) or (d), the Lieutenant-Governor in Council may appoint a person to replace him or her. (11) The Lieutenant-Governor in Council may authorize the payment of remuneration and expenses to the members of the committee. (12) The exercise of the powers of the committee shall not be impaired because of a vacancy in its membership. (13) Acts done by the committee shall, notwithstanding that it is afterwards discovered that there was some defect in the appointment or qualification of a person purporting to be a member of the committee, be as valid as if that defect had not existed. RSN1970 c103 s9; 1973 No98 s4; 1975 No19 s2; 1983 c43 Sch 1996 cS-12.1 s120 Back to Top Rep. by 2001 c27 s2 9. [Rep. by 2001 c27 s2] 2001 c27 s2 Back to Top Suspension of certificate or licence 10. (1) The review panel may suspend for one year, or a lesser period specified by it, the certificate or licence of a teacher who, (a) while required by contract to teach with the department, accepts a position with the conseil scolaire without obtaining a written release from the department; (b) while required by contract to teach with the conseil scolaire, accepts a position with the department without obtaining a written release from the conseil scolaire; (c) having contracted to teach with the department or the conseil scolaire, terminates that contract before beginning service as a teacher with the department or the conseil scolaire unless, where special circumstances arise which the department or the conseil scolaire and the teacher agree make it inappropriate for the teacher to fulfil the teacher's contract, the department or the conseil scolaire has given the teacher a written release; or (d) having contracted to teach with the department or the conseil scolaire terminates that contract without giving to the department or the conseil scolaire the notice required by the collective agreement, upon notification of the circumstances referred to in paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d) being given to the minister by (e) the department referred to in paragraph (a); (f) the conseil scolaire referred to in paragraph (b); or (g) the department or the conseil scolaire referred to in paragraph (c) or (d). (2) Where a teacher whose certificate or licence has been suspended under subsection (1) owes money to the department, that money shall be withheld by the department from money owing the teacher by way of salary and is forfeited to the department. (3) In this section "collective agreement" means a collective agreement as defined in the Teachers' Collective Bargaining Act. 1975 No19 s3; 1996 cS-12.1 s120 ; 1997 cS-12.2 s128 ; 2001 c27 s3 ; 2023 c18 s48 Back to Top Regulations 11. Subject to the approval of the Lieutenant-Governor in Council, the committee may make regulations (a) prescribing the number and names of grades of teachers' certificates and licences, and the conditions under which the certificates and licences may be granted; (b) prescribing the conditions under and the period during which the certificates and licences shall be valid; (c) [Rep. by 1996 cR-10.1 s72] (d) providing for the granting of interim, as well as permanent, teachers' certificates; (e) providing for academic and professional standards in the training, examining, grading, certification and licensing of teachers, including training, examining, grading, certification and licensing in relation to the divisions in which they shall be qualified to teach; (f) providing for the training and examining of administrators and supervisory and specialist personnel; and (g) generally respecting the academic and professional standards in training and classification of teachers. RSN1970 c103 s12; 1973 No98 s6; 1983 c39 s1; 1996 cR-10.1 s72 Back to Top Committee to advise registrar 12. The committee shall, when it or the registrar considers it necessary or desirable, advise the registrar on the granting and issuing of teachers' certificates and licences. RSN1970 c103 s13 Back to Top Review 13. (1) A teacher who is aggrieved by an issuing of, or refusal to issue, a teaching certificate or licence by the registrar upon examination by the registrar of an application for that certificate or licence may, subject to the regulations, request the registrar to re-examine the application. (2) A teacher, or the committee, may, subject to the regulations, request the review panel to review a cancellation or suspension of or a refusal to cancel or suspend a teaching certificate or licence made by the review panel. (3) Subject to the regulations, the registrar shall re-examine the application referred to in subsection (1) and make, within the time limit prescribed by the regulations, his or her decision to the teacher in writing, and that decision shall be given effect in accordance with this Act and the regulations. (4) Subject to the regulations, the review panel shall review the cancellation or suspension or refusal referred to in subsection (2) and make, within the time limit prescribed by the regulations, to the teacher, and the committee, where an application is made by the committee, its decision which shall be given effect in accordance with this Act and the regulations. 2001 c27 s4 Back to Top Board of appeals 14. (1) The minister may convene a board to be known as a board of appeals. (2) The minister shall appoint to a board of appeals convened under subsection (1) (a) 1 member nominated by the Newfoundland Teachers' Association; (b) 2 members nominated by the committee; and (c) one member who is an employee of the department. (d) [Rep. by 1996 cS-12.1 s120] (3) A person who is a member of the committee or the review panel is not eligible for appointment to a board of appeals. (4) The 4 members appointed under subsection (2) shall, within 5 days after the day on which the 4th of them is appointed, nominate a 5th person, who is willing and ready to act, to be a member and chairperson of the board of appeals and the minister shall appoint him or her a member and chairperson of the board of appeals. (5) Where the 4 members appointed under subsection (2) fail or neglect to make a nomination within 5 days after the appointment of the 4th member, the minister shall immediately appoint, as the 5th member and chairperson of the board of appeals, a person who in his or her opinion is qualified and who has consented to act. (6) Where a board of appeals is convened under subsection (1), an officer, clerk or employee in the department who is not a member of the board of appeals shall be designated by the minister as secretary of the board of appeals, and the secretary shall keep full records of the proceedings of the board of appeals. 1981 c86 s1; 1996 cS-12.1 s120 ; 2001 c27 s5 Back to Top Review by appeals board 15. (1) Where (a) a re-examination conducted under subsection 13(1); or (b) a review conducted under subsection 13(2), has not resulted in a settlement of the matter, the teacher or, where the matter is one to which subsection 13(2) applies, the teacher or the committee, may, subject to the regulations, request in writing that the minister submit the matter to a board of appeals. (2) Subject to the regulations, the minister shall submit the matter to a board of appeals convened under section 14. (3) Subject to the regulations, a board of appeals shall (a) notify the teacher or, where the matter is one to which subsection 13(2) applies, the teacher or the committee, or both, of the time the appeal is to be heard; (b) hear the appeal; (c) upon the conclusion of the hearing confirm, vary or set aside the finding or decision of the registrar or review panel appealed from; and (d) communicate in writing its finding or decision to the teacher affected or, where the matter is one to which subsection 13(2) applies, the teacher or the committee, or both. (4) A decision of a board of appeals made under paragraph (3 )( c) shall be given effect in accordance with this Act and the regulations. (5) For the purpose of a hearing before a board of appeals (a) a teacher may appear on his or her own behalf or be accompanied or represented by counsel or an agent of his or her choice; and (b) a member of the committee who has been authorized by the committee to do so may appear before a board of appeals on behalf of the committee and be accompanied or represented by counsel. (6) Where a teacher or the committee has requested under subsection (1) that the minister submit the matter to a board of appeals and does not (a) in the case of a teacher, in person or by counsel or agent; or (b) in the case of the committee, through one of its members or by counsel, attend the hearing of the appeal after being notified under this section, the board of appeals may proceed to examine the matter in the absence of that teacher or committee member, counsel or agent and to hear their witnesses and to adjudicate on the matter unless the teacher or committee member has, by written notice, advised the board of appeals of a desire to attend the hearing and has set out in the notice the circumstances that prevent that attendance. (7) The decision of a majority of the members of a board of appeals shall be the decision of the board of appeals and in the event of a tie the decision of the chairperson shall be the decision of the board of appeals. (8) A finding or decision of a board of appeals is final and binding on the parties to an appeal. 2001 c27 s6 Back to Top Regulations 16. The minister may make regulations respecting matters and prescribing procedures in relation to (a) the re-examination of an application by the registrar; (b) the review of a suspension or cancellation or refusal by the review panel; and (c) an appeal to a board of appeals. 1981 c86 s1; 2001 c27 s7 Back to Top Training institutions 17. (1) The recognized institutions for training teachers shall be (a) the Memorial University of Newfoundland; (b) the Church of England College for student teachers of the Anglican Church of Canada; (c) the Roman Catholic Colleges, the training schools of the Congregation of Christian Brothers, the Congregation of Mercy and the Congregation of the Presentation, for student teachers of the Roman Catholic Church; (d) the United Church College for student teachers of the United Church of Canada and Presbyterian Churches; (e) the principal school of the Salvation Army in St. John's for student teachers of the Salvation Army; and (f) the principal school of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Newfoundland in St. John's for student teachers of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Newfoundland. (2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), the committee may designate additional institutions inside or outside of Newfoundland for training teachers and decide the grade of certificate or licence which may be granted to a candidate who has taken a teacher training course at that institution, and institutions which are designated are for the purpose of indenturing student teachers considered to be recognized institutions for training teachers. RSN1970 c103 s15 Back to Top Certificate or licence required 18. (1) A person shall not be engaged, appointed, employed or retained to teach in a school, unless he or she holds a valid certificate or licence issued in accordance with the regulations. (2) A person who does not hold a certificate or licence required by subsection (1) may, with the permission of the minister on the recommendation of either the department or the conseil scolaire, be engaged, appointed, employed or retained to teach in a school by way of emergency supply for a period which the minister may prescribe. RSN1970 c103 s16; 2023 c18 s48 Back to Top Effective date 19. A teachers' certificate or licence shall have effect from the 1st day of the month in which the candidate meets the academic and professional qualifications prescribed by the regulations. 1983 c39 s2 Back to Top Capacity of minor 20. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in another Act or law, a student teacher who is a minor may execute and deliver an indenture or agreement under the regulations, and an indenture or agreement executed in this manner and delivered by a student teacher who is a minor shall be as valid, and the covenants contained in the agreement shall be as binding on that student teacher as if the student teacher had reached his or her majority before the execution and delivery of the agreement. RSN1970 c103 s19