Wales must raise teacher training quality

1.55.00pm GMT Tue 14th Oct 2008

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have today called for Wales to follow in the successful footsteps of Scotland and implement a programme of professionalisation of the teaching workforce.

Kirsty Williams AM, Welsh Lib Dem spokesperson for Education, today questioned the First Minister on his Government's plans to raise quality standards within the profession.

Kirsty commented: "Scotland has a Chartered Teachers Programme, which incentivises teachers to continue to develop and update their teaching skills. England is developing similar programmes of professionalisation but Wales is falling behind with no such plans on the table.

"The Government is continuing to invest in training more teachers despite only 41% of the 960 teachers trained in Wales in 2006/2007 going onto teach in Wales. In 2007/2008 22% went on to teach elsewhere in the UK and 11% did not go on to a teaching post. Whilst over the border the focus is shifting away from churning out large numbers of superfluous teachers to ensuring that the current workforce remains highly skilled, up to date and motivated.

"The Assembly Government must change its focus and ensure that our teaching profession in Wales has the same opportunities of development as their colleagues over the border."