HC Deb 25 June 1985 vol 81 cc351-2W
59. Mr. Hardy

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he will take to secure an improvement in the morale of the teaching profession.

Sir Keith Joseph

I shall continue to try to increase public awareness of the importance and difficulty of the teacher's task, a task to which most teachers apply themselves with skill and dedication. The Government are seeking to assist them in that task through the policies outlined in "Better Schools" (Cmnd. 9469), including those for improving the quality of initial and in-service training. I shall continue to urge the teachers and their associations that the path to improved pay levels, greater regard from the general public and enhanced self-esteem within the profession lies in the reform of the current salary system to allow greater scope for the promotion of good classroom teachers, combined with a clearer definition of the teacher's duties to establish what can reasonably be expected of them and the introduction of performance appraisal to facilitate their professional and career development.