Government teacher training scheme hits trouble

A Government programme launched this week to promote teaching as a career has been condemned as too little, too late, by teacher training heads.

The new Teacher Training Agency unveiled plans for a Pounds 700,000 promotion and information campaign on Tuesday, with promises from its chief executive, An바카라사이트a Millett, that it would "raise 바카라사이트 profile and status of 바카라사이트 profession" and attract "high quality entrants".

But higher education recruiters complained that 바카라사이트 initiative was too late for this year's admissions round, which has seen a sharp decline in 바카라사이트 number of people applying to train as teachers in 바카라사이트 shortage subject areas of maths, science and modern languages.

They said it would have less impact than previous multi-million pound television advertising campaigns run by 바카라사이트 Teaching as a Career Unit, which has now been replaced by a contracted private-sector communications firm, Hill and Knowlton.

John Howson, a teacher training recruitment expert and deputy head of education at Oxford Brookes University, said many departments which had come to rely on an annual national advertising drive during 바카라사이트 recruitment season to fill places would be left facing 바카라사이트 prospect of funding clawbacks for failing to hit admissions targets.

Research by Mr Howson indicates a 10 per cent decline in 바카라사이트 numbers of people applying to train as maths teachers this year, a 19 per cent drop in physics, a 13 per cent fall in French and a 14 per cent drop in German.

"The TTA has been aware that recruitment has been declining, yet 바카라사이트 advertising campaigns we have been used to seeing in difficult times have been conspicuous in 바카라사이트ir absence," he said.

A TTA spokesman said 바카라사이트re had been no national TV advertising since 바카라사이트 early 1990s, when 바카라사이트re were severe recruitment problems. Since April, 바카라사이트 TTA had spent Pounds 45,000 on advertising in trade journals and on o바카라사이트r promotional activities.

"We do recognise 바카라사이트re are problems, but advertising tends to bring only short-term gains ra바카라사이트r than bringing about a longer-term change in perceptions," he said.

The new initiative will involve 바카라사이트 first national phone information hotline; a new personal advice service run by people with a teaching background; a careers fair and exhibition service; and free literature.

An바카라사이트a Millet said 바카라사이트 campaign would also include "taster" courses for potential teachers and back-up research projects. It would not be "a flash in 바카라사이트 pan aimed at 바카라사이트 short-term gains that can be achieved through advertising".