Conservatives demand answers on teacher training fees

Friday, 17 December 2004 12:00 AM

The Shadow Education Secretary has written to the new Education Secretary, Ruth Kelly, demanding assurances about the cost of teacher training courses.

Currently, the cost of the one-year post-graduate teacher training course is covered by the Government and the Teacher Training Agency

Although, officials at the Office for Fair Access have confirmed that tuition fees arrangements will apply to the one-year courses, but the Government stresses that the arrangements for funding such courses have not been finalised.

In an open letter to Ms Kelly, Chris Grayling said he had read the reports "with alarm".

"If true, it would be a serious blow to the teaching profession. According to our calculations, the typical debt for a student teacher would rise to almost £30,000, nearly twice the current level. This would be an extraordinarily ill-judged step to take. I would be grateful for your reassurance that the Government will reconsider this proposal.

"In addition could you please confirm whether discussions have taken place between your department and the Department of Health about ending the current fee exemption enjoyed by key staff in the NHS including nurses, radiographers and medical students."

The National Union of Students also hit out at the suggestion of the full £3,000 being levied. President Kat Fletcher said: "The shortage of teachers in this country is well documented, as is the call for better pay and protection. But if the government is serious about encouraging more people to the profession and improving our schools it needs to provide a system of financial support that does not discriminate and does not deter students already in huge debts from their undergraduate degrees from continuing on to a PGCE.

"The Government have justified top-up fees by suggesting graduates will earn vast sums of money, with little or no regard for lower paid professions such as teaching, nursing, social work and charity work. These are all vital jobs which make a huge contribution to society and which the government will undoubtedly be focussing on in the run up to next year's General Election. The decision to charge students up to £3,000 for completing a PGCE however, will make many prospective students think again before committing to a career in teaching."

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