Teachers back minimum degree standards

Tue, 19 Apr 2011

A new survey has revealed that the majority of teachers back government plans to set a minimum degree standard for those entering the profession.

The government has unveiled plans to ban students with a third-class degree or worse from state-funded teacher training courses .

While many in the teaching profession have been critical of the move, a survey by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) of 662 student teachers found that 62 per cent think that a 2:2 degree should be a minimum requirement for teachers.

However, the vast majority believe other factors are as or more important, with 83 per cent saying that the grade of a first degree does not give any indication of how good a teacher or lecturer someone will be.

ATL general secretary Dr Mary Bousted said: "Teaching is a profession, career and vocation. It is important that those entrusted with teaching our children are highly qualified and have the highest skills possible."

The government has also proposed introducing psychometric tests to gage candidates’ suitability for the classroom and changes to make it easier for heads to sack poor-performing staff.
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