18th June 2013 9:00
By Blue Tutors
A new government scheme has been announced which will enable former soldiers to qualify as teachers. The scheme, which is due to be piloted in 2014, will allow former soldiers who do not have degrees to sign up for a programme which will qualify them to teach in half the time it usually takes. Soldiers who do not have higher education qualifications will be expected to have experience as instructors, mentors or coaches in order to qualify. The scheme is being implemented by ministers in order to encourage former military personnel into teaching.
Education minister David Laws announced the scheme and said that it would help ex-service men and women to begin new careers in the classroom. The Department for Education said that those who already had degrees would be eligible for bursaries to help their enrolment in teacher training courses specifically designed for ex-service personnel. The usual teacher training requires teachers to complete a university degree, which would usually take three years, before embarking on a one year teacher training course. Under the ‘Troops to Teachers’ scheme for former military personnel, candidates would not have to have a degree, and would instead embark on a two year teacher training programme.
Head teachers have voiced concerns that the programme is not sufficient to prepare candidates for the classroom. They have said that the programme does not provide the necessary preparation or support for classroom teaching, and also warned that the programme was likely to create a ‘military ethos’ in schools. The Department for Education and Skills said that members of the armed forces possess the skills necessary for the classroom, including discipline, motivation and teamwork. The Association of School and College Leaders said that whilst some ex-military personnel likely do have the potential to be excellent teachers, they would need appropriate preparation, which the Troops to Teachers Programme doesn’t provide.