§ 13. Mr. PawseyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he intends to take to improve the quality of teacher training and to make it more relevant to the needs of modern industry.
§ Mr. ButcherThe Government already have in place a number of measures designed to improve teacher training and to give due importance to business and economic factors, in particular the tough new criteria for pre-service training courses introduced in 1984 and the comprehensive in-service training grant scheme introduced in 1987. My Department, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Training Agency are currently collaborating on a range of specific projects in this area.
§ Mr. PawseyI thank my hon. Friend for that comprehensive reply. Does he agree that many of our excellent education reforms will be undermined if teachers are not adequately trained? Does he accept that we should take a hard look at some teacher training colleges to ensure that the courses that they offer and the methods that they use will properly equip our children for society? Finally, does my hon. Friend agree that perhaps teacher training colleges should be next on our agenda for reform?
§ Mr. ButcherTeacher training is the issue of the moment. It is our view that we should focus on quality, relevance and practicality of training. We do not want the colleges to become playgrounds for behavioural scientists, and thankfully, the majority of them are not. This is a serious question that must be addressed as a matter of great priority.