§ Mr. SummersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he will take to reorganise the pay structure of lecturers in further education so that they receive promotion through merit rather than by effluxion of time.
§ Mrs. RumboldThe Department has only observer status on the National Joint Council (Further Education).
342WThe grade of a lecturer is currently determined largely by the level of teaching in which he or she is engaged, and whether he or she has management responsibilities. The basic lecturer grade will from July have a salary maximum of £15,369—£1,506 more than a school teacher on the main professional grade who does not hold an incentive allowance. Progression to the next grade is automatic only for lecturers engaged for 50 per cent. of their time essentially on courses above A-level standard, and it is possible for progression to be refused on the grounds that a lecturer is inefficient. Progression to the remaining grades is on merit. Further education lecturers are thus not generally guaranteed promotion within the existing pay structure on the basis of length of service alone. The Government will be looking to the further education sector in the years ahead to refine this salary structure so as to provide further incentives for good cost-effective teaching.