Are Teacher Induction Programs a Rational Idea?

You’ve studied, you've earned Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Superb! If you qualified in Wales, you have met all 32 of the Descriptors for Teaching.

Before you get too excited, double handling strikes! You have 190 work days to meet a slightly higher version of these 32 descriptors.

These 190 work days are the induction program, the Newly Qualified Teacher (NQT) period. Pass induction and you are good to go. Fail, and you are ineligible to teach in any maintained school in Wales, forever.

So, are teacher induction programs a rational idea?

Rationality is about choosing actions that are consistent with advancing personal interests, whatever those interests may be.

- Bruce Bueno de Mesquita

Who's personal interests might be being advanced? Who are the Induction program stakeholders?

• Learners

• Local Authorities

• Politicians

• School Leaders

• Teachers

In future posts I'll be focusing in on each of these stakeholders. Who’s personal interests do teacher induction programs advance?