HC Deb 03 November 1987 vol 121 cc769-70
4. Mr. Nicholas Baker

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will bring forward proposals to improve professional standards in education; and if he will make a statement.

The Minister of State, Department of Education and Science (Mrs. Angela Rumbold)

All our policies are directed towards improving professional standards in education.

Mr. Baker

Is my hon. Friend aware of the damage done to education by the theories of Fred Jarvis and his NUT brothers, which equate teaching with manual, unskilled industrial occupations? Is my hon. Friend surprised at the number of good teachers who are leaving unions? Will she do everything in her power to encourage good leadership for the vast majority of responsible and good teachers that we have?

Mrs. Rumbold

My hon. Friend is right to say that some of the union leaders have not been tremendously helpful in promoting our proposals, but he will be glad to know that many individual teachers have responded to our proposals in writing. When the legislation is introduced, they will be greatly encouraged to see that their worries have been answered.

Mr. Barry Jones

To have high standards, is there not a need for high morale in the profession? Are the Government not guilty of creating low morale—indeed, smouldering resentment—among teachers? If they want better standards, what will they do to improve the morale of teachers?

Mrs. Rumbold

The Government are anxious to know exactly what teachers say about our proposals. Many of the responses have been helpful, especially on the curriculum proposals, which are directly related to their professional responsibilities. In addition, during the past year the Government have made substantial inroads into the pay and conditions of service for teachers and many of them now believe that their morale is on the way back.

Mr. Harry Greenway

Is my hon. Friend aware of the great concern in the teaching profession, among parents and in all sections of the community about the statistic published yesterday that only 38 per cent. of children over the age of 13 have religious education in their schools? Does this not lead to serious indiscipline among many children, who do not have a proper understanding of morals? Will my hon. Friend support moves to put religious education into the core curriculum?

Mrs. Rumbold

My hon. Friend will be glad to know that in our proposals we shall secure the position cif religious education and instruction in schools.