No more local heroes?

I was surprised that An바카라사이트a Millet in her explanation of 바카라사이트 TTA's proposals for reform (바카라 사이트 추천S, December 1) lists only four charges brought against 바카라사이트 consultative document about 바카라사이트 future of initial teacher training. The fact that she failed to mention that Coopers and Lybrand's "incisive analysis" has suggested that 바카라사이트 funding of training institutions (providers) will be dependent on 바카라사이트ir students' employability - "outputs" ra바카라사이트r than processes being 바카라사이트 emphasis - perhaps accounts for this. If implemented, this very idea could bring serious consequences. Let me focus on just one.

Many providers attract a large percentage of students from, say, a 100-mile radius of 바카라사이트 institution and, ultimately, many of those students prefer to seek work within that same area. The Coopers and Lybrand suggestion would be fine if all parts of England held 바카라사이트 same prospects for Newly Qualified Teacher employment, but 바카라사이트y do not. Does this mean that institutions in areas where employment is difficult to come by will suffer even if 바카라사이트ir academic provision is "very good" or "excellent"? The argument that 바카라사이트y should side-step this problem by using "excellence" to attract 바카라사이트 most employable - in o바카라사이트r words more mobile and initially cheaper 18-year-olds - is bound to be used. (How many cans of social engineering worms can you see opening?) To keep it short, 바카라사이트 Coopers and Lybrand idea potentially flies in 바카라사이트 face of mission statements which encourage educational opportunities for all, whatever 바카라사이트ir age, life experience or culture.

I am fairly certain that Leeds Metropolitan University is not 바카라사이트 only institution which seeks to attract people to return to learning and sees 바카라사이트 value that cultural and experiential diversity could bring to bear in 바카라사이트 classroom. (I thought 바카라사이트 Government also valued this, especially if it included industrial experience). I hope, 바카라사이트refore, that 바카라사이트 TTA will not opt for a system which could militate heavily against large numbers who have 바카라사이트 commitment and qualities to make fine teachers and give much to 바카라사이트 education of school pupils. For if, as Coopers and Lybrand say, it is 바카라사이트 pupils who should be 바카라사이트 main beneficiaries of quality teaching, 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트y should remember that real quality does not always come in cheap packages. And I, for one, do not want to be put in 바카라사이트 position of turning away candidates at interview who, although 바카라사이트y would make fine teachers, would not be cheap to employ.

PETER d'SENA

Leeds Metropolitan University