UK gov outlines frontal assault on education: train former soldiers to teach.

[Hannah Bell]

The...Education White Paper is a frontal assault on teachers, the right of children to a decent education and the state provision of education.

Far from increasing the number of fully qualified teachers... the government is to deskill teaching and turn to unqualified staff.

As outlined in... the white paper published November 24, the government is to tear up the present arrangements requiring teachers to have a one-year postgraduate qualification with predominantly university-based education and training, in favour of school-based training on the job.

It means that children will be taught by trainee teachers.

Gove wants to “diversify” the routes into teaching.

“Highflyers” wanting a new career will be offered an “accelerated route to leadership,” so that they will not have to start at the bottom.

He is keen to encourage former soldiers with a degree to become teachers and will pay for their training.

(Interesting -- remember the influx of high-level military into schools through the Broad Superintendants' Academy? Why do the US & the UK want the military in schools?)

The government is even designing a “bespoke compressed” route for soldiers without a degree.

The advocacy of former armed forces personnel in the classroom speaks of a government determined to discipline the young in schools that will be little more than boot camps.

The threshold for “failing” schools that triggers intervention is to be raised from 30 to 35 percent... Weak schools will be forced to become Academies — privately run but centrally funded schools... (same as the US version)

At the core of the government’s agenda is the dismantling of state education and a “free market” approach, but based on taxpayers’ money — in the first instance at least.

It wants private companies or voluntary groups to set up their own schools, including schools for children with special needs, under its flagship policy, the “Free Schools” programme, with public funding.

But new schools will need buildings. The government’s solution, aimed at removing barriers to setting up free schools, is to suggest that pet shops, funeral parlours, pubs, takeaways and hair salons be converted into new schools without seeking planning permission.

Free Schools will also be free to employ unqualified teachers.

All these proposals come on top of a cut in the schools budget...

The government has also cut the school building programme by 60 percent...

Teachers’ pay is to be cut. There is to be a pay freeze for all public sector workers earning more than £21,000 a year...



http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/dec2010/educ-d07.shtml