25.9.2000 "Teacher recruitment crisis - Ministers must act" - Edward Davey New figures show the number of temporary teachers in the Borough’s schools is well above the regional average Edward Davey has slammed the Labour Government for failing Kingston’s pupils after figures published in the School Teachers Review of 1999 showed that 50 classes in Kingston were without a permanent teacher last year. This equates to 4.8% of all teaching vacancies in Kingston remaining unfilled compared with a 4% London average, and backs up other evidence of a growing teacher recruitment crisis in the area. Commenting on the shocking figures, Edward Davey said, "These figures show that 50 classes were without a permanent teacher last year. This means that almost 1,500 pupils had their education disrupted because their school couldn’t find a full-time teacher to teach. "This is an utter disgrace and comes in the wake of the Government’s own figures which confirm that under Labour, class sizes are growing in Kingston as well. "This is almost a mirror image of what happened during the last Conservative Government. It is now clear that only the Liberal Democrats have the political will required to provide the resources to tackle this once and for all." "This is not just about high house prices causing recruitment problems; it’s about backing our schools with the cash they need." He added, "The Liberal Democrats will give teachers the freedom to teach valuing their professional judgement, cutting bureaucracy and promoting creativity in the classroom." "The Liberal Democrats will invest in education at all stages and levels - guaranteeing that investment with an additional penny on income tax if necessary." "With the Liberal Democrats it will not be yet more targets and re-organisation but a commitment to let teachers teach and children learn."
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