Camden New Journal - News: teachers who face axe

Publications by New Journal Enterprises

Home

Archive

Competition

Camden New Journal - by CHARLOTTE CHAMBERS
Published: 9 August 2007

Teachers who face axe win reprieve

A ONE-year reprieve for overseas teachers facing the sack for not having the right qualifications has met with a mixed response.
The New Journal revealed in June how up to 50 teachers in Camden’s schools had been caught out in a government clampdown.
Six have already been sacked while three have left the country.
A rule stating teachers must gain a British qualification has always existed, but until now it had been enforced so casually some teachers had been working for more than 10 years without complying.
The announcement of a clampdown on teachers who did not have the qualification caused alarm earlier this year.
But in July the Department for Children, Schools and Families backed down, announcing that those who had been teaching for up to four years would be given another year to go on the training course. But the concession does not apply to those who have been in classrooms for more than four years.
Mike Orr, who left Our Lady’s Primary School in Camden Town two weeks ago, is heading to Dubai this month to take up a post at an international school.
“The whole thing is ridiculous,” he said. “My whole life has been taken away from me.
“The government have got no idea about the real world. There’s so many good teachers this country is losing because they’re showing a preference to European teachers over Commonwealth ones.”

Comment on this article.
(You must supply your full name and email address for your comment to be published)

Name:

Email:

Comment:

Your Comments: