Author Description

This research report has been prepared by the South African Qualification Authority (SAQA) at the request of the Commonwealth Steering Group on Teacher Qualifications following an earlier study on the recognition of teacher qualifications (SAQA and Commonwealth Secretariat 2006), and a pilot study on a teacher qualifications comparability table (SAQA 2007). The aim of the research is to develop a pan-Commonwealth teacher qualifications comparability table to provide the basis for pathways for the recognition of qualifications of teachers when they move across borders. The research is located within the cross-section of two current discourses: one on the international migration of highly skilled labour, specifically teachers, and the other concerned with the cross-border provisioning of education and training. In this regard, the Commonwealth Teacher Recruitment Protocol (Commonwealth Secretariat 2004) constitutes an important frame of reference wherein discourses are interpreted. The research is limited to primary and secondary teacher qualifications offered within 35 Commonwealth countries.