Teacher training crisis deepens

Four more universities plan to quit as THES survey reveals widespread discontent

Fears of a mass exodus from teacher training by universities were exacerbated this week as a THES survey revealed overwhelming discontent with the Teacher Training Agency regime.

The survey revealed that four more institutions are planning to withdraw teacher training courses, following the lead of the Open University, Greenwich University and Nene College.

Brunel University, Hertfordshire University, Trinity and All Saints College and Manchester Metropolitan University have all warned they will be withdrawing provision. Many more said the situation was under review.

Trinity and All Saints principal Mike Coughlan has warned of impending "mayhem" in initial teacher education. It appears that universities, alienated by curriculum changes by the TTA and inspection demands by schools inspector Ofsted, plus the general recruitment crisis, are voting with their feet and threatening withdrawal.

A THES survey of 26 higher education providers, about a third the English sector, found that 65 per cent of institutions are dissatisfied with the current inspection regime, although 30 per cent refused to comment, claiming any comment could be prejudicial to future inspections.

Only four of the sample said they were happy with the new national curriculum for teacher training. More than 60 per cent said they were unhappy because the requirements were too demanding or because they perceived the curriculum as an attack on institutional autonomy.

In a letter to TTA chairman Clive Booth, Dr Coughlan said it was "likely" the college would withdraw from its postgraduate primary courses after this year.

"There is a major issue here," he said, "which is going to result in mayhem for initial teacher education provision within the next year if it is not tackled with extreme urgency."

Dr Coughlan challenged Mr Booth's recent claim in The THES that he had no knowledge of institutions planning to pull out of provision.

"May I advise you that two weeks ago, in a face-to-face meeting with officers of the TTA, my colleague and I advised them that our primary education team regarded the requirements to meet standards of the new national curriculum for initial teacher education within the space of a 38-week PGCE course as an absurdity," said Dr Coughlan.

He added: "The likelihood is that we shall continue with our undergraduate provision, but withdraw from postgraduate after this year." Trinity and All Saints teaches 44 postgraduates a year.

John Craven, vice-chancellor of the University of Portsmouth, said a general withdrawal of higher education providers from teacher training was a real threat.

"In this university, and I suspect in many others, there is a very serious debate about the long-term future of teacher training activity."