The New Zealand Teachers Council says it is upholding high professional standards by imposing strict guidelines on early childhood teachers hoping to gain registration in New Zealand.
When contacted this week, chief executive Peter Lind said any teacher wanting to gain recognition of prior learning and registration in this country must have completed a recognised qualification.
Passing a few papers towards a bachelors degree was not enough.
Nor was a qualification completed more than six years ago, because it was not recent enough, Mr Lind said.
The ability to obtain registration not only depended on how long ago the qualification was obtained, but how "current" the teacher's practice was, he said.
Many former early childhood diplomas were taught at levels 3, 4 and 5 of the tertiary system, but those qualifications were not equivalent to today's third year papers, which are at level 7, Mr Lind said.
In Australia, many early childhood education qualifications were set by the Department of Health, and focused on child care issues.
Those qualifications were not equivalent to the standards set by New Zealand, Mr Lind said.
Early childhood teachers from overseas should go to the New Zealand Qualifications Authority to obtain a report on their "equivalency level" before enrolling at an approved tertiary provider to upgrade their qualification.
They could then apply to the council for registration, he said.
Teachers would have to provide evidence of their qualification, professional learning and development.
The council looked at each registration applicant on a case-by-case basis.
"Generalising, the requirements in New Zealand are significantly greater than in Australia. In Australia, early childhood teachers are not recognised equivalents with New Zealand-registered teachers. New Zealand has a higher benchmark," Mr Lind said.
Asked if teachers could appeal a council ruling on registration, Mr Lind said they could make a case, which would be considered based on "everything, training, learning, professional development, endorsement of peers, appraisal".
Teachers trying to seek an exception needed a NZQA report showing they were equivalent to level 7; otherwise, they "need to do something about it".
