DAVEY CHALLENGES BLUNKETT TO GIVE PROMISED TRAINING SALARIES TO LOCAL STUDENT TEACHERS Edward Davey, Liberal Democrat MP for Kingston & Surbiton, has challenged David Blunkett to give teacher trainee grants to local student teachers who unfairly missed out last year. Part-time PGCE students due to start courses in April or May 2000 were told by the Teacher Training Agency (TTA) that they would be entitled to the £6,000 grant announced by the Government in March 2000. The DfEE has since made it clear that the grant was only ever intended for those students commencing courses from September 2000. Mr Davey challenged Mr Blunkett to give the students their grants after being approached by affected constituents living in Kingston & Surbiton. Mr Davey has been informed that the TTA and the DfEE are now locked in talks as they try to agree a settlement on behalf of the students. Edward Davey said: "It is abundantly clear that the TTA misled students and their colleges. If there is any justice, and if the Government is as committed to recruiting teachers as it claims, these prospective teachers will now be given the grants they were promised. "I believe there has already been a significant drop-out rate among those on courses beginning in April or May 2000 because they could not afford to continue their study. "As it becomes increasingly difficult to recruit teachers, it is essential for local schools and pupils for those training to become teachers to get the support they were promised to enable them to finish their courses." Notes 1. Adverts issued by the TTA in Spring 2000 featured a cheque dated '2000/01' and explicitly stated that 'all 2000/01 students' would receive the grant. 2. The expectation of this grant was an influencing factor for some prospective students in their decision to commence their course. 3. The TTA has acknowledged that it gave misleading information to many students but the DfEE has maintained that the grant only ever applied to the September 2000 intake. 4. Only four PCGE courses started in April or May 2000. These courses are offered by St Mary's College (Strawberry Hill, Middlesex); Christchurch College (Canterbury); St Martin's College (Lancashire); Sheffield Hallam University (Sheffield). Up to 180 students nationally have been affected. 5. The Liberal Democrats' policy is to pay a full training salary, worth more than double the government's training grant. The salary would also include pension and National Insurance contributions, making it easier for people to switch careers. |
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