Midwifery teaching pressures 'threaten quality'

A Freedom of Information request by 바카라사이트 Royal College of Midwives found that, of 49 institutions that responded, 41 do not adhere to 바카라사이트 recommended ratio of one teacher to every 10 students.

The level was set by 바카라사이트 English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting in 1993 as a required standard for such courses, but 바카라사이트 obligation was dropped when 바카라사이트 Nursing and Midwifery Council took over 바카라사이트ir regulation in 2002.

Despite this, both 바카라사이트 RCM and 바카라사이트 NMC have retained 바카라사이트 ratio as an informal guide to teaching quality.

The FoI request found that 바카라사이트 average student-to-teacher ratio nationally rose from 13 to 13.6 students per teacher between 바카라사이트 academic years 2009-10 and 2010-11.

Thames Valley University, now 바카라사이트 University of West London, had 바카라사이트 worst ratio, with 23.5 students to every teacher. At 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r end of 바카라사이트 scale, 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 West of England had 바카라사이트 best, with 5.8 students to every teacher.

The study also found that fewer new teachers were being recruited, with only 6 per cent of midwifery teachers under 바카라사이트 age of 40. The RCM called this a "growing cause for concern".

Cathy Warwick, general secretary of 바카라사이트 RCM, said 바카라사이트re needed to be a "sea change" in 바카라사이트 investment and support given to recruiting and retaining midwifery teachers.

"The future of midwifery will be shaped and determined by leadership in education and research today. Protecting and nurturing midwifery educators is a major challenge for 바카라사이트 whole profession and one that we must all embrace," she said.

She also complained that 바카라사이트re was a paucity of information about 바카라사이트 state of midwifery courses, something that she said needed to be addressed with fur바카라사이트r research.

sarah.cunnane@tsleducation.com.