Saskatchewan regulatory board for teachers opens in Regina

The Education Minister opened the office of the long anticipatedSaskatchewan Professional Teachers Regulatory Board Wednesday morning.

The self-governingboard replacesthe Saskatchewan Teacher Federation which is also the union that represents teachers indisciplinary matters. It will also take over certification from the Ministry of Education.

"This is an important achievement that gives Saskatchewan teachers the autonomy to self-regulate like other professions in the province," Education Minister Don Morgan said in a release.

The province says this will mean more fair decisions and greater transparency for the public than currently exists.In the past, there have been concerns about conflicts of interest with STF.

"The STF had a rigorous system of dealing with the complaints," Morgan said in December.

"But the fact that they were in response to advocating on behalf of teachers, did not establish sufficient public confidence."

The board is made up of seven teachers and two members of the public. The aim, according to the government, is to make it more arms-length.

It will also be responsible for the registration of teachers, a new requirement for employment for publicly-funded schools in Saskatchewan.