Wipe out teachers' student debt after seven years, says thinktank

New teachers should have their student debt wiped out after they have been in the profession for seven years, says a report on attracting more graduates into teaching. The introduction of a policy of “forgivable fees” could mean a teacher who started work in their early 20s could be free of university tuition fee debt by 30.

The policy is one of a number of ideas put forward in a report by the Higher Education Policy Institute thinktank to help deal with a growing shortage of teachers, which experts warn is threatening the life chances of a generation.

The report, published on Thursday, says the current system of scholarships aimed at attracting graduate talent is not sufficiently effective and calls on the next government to think again about how to make teaching a more attractive option. The report says “There is no evidence of concerted action to address the problems.”

Secondary schools are particularly badly affected and are struggling to recruit teachers in subjects such as physics and maths, with the problem being more acute in expensive commuter towns and villages, peripheral regions and coastal areas, says the report.

Nick Hillman, the director of Hepi, said policymakers were fond of intervening in teacher training and had recently tried to change it from universities into schools. “But the numbers speak for themselves: in every year between 2013 and 2016, teacher recruitment missed its targets,” he said.

“Large sums have been spent on bursaries for trainee teachers, but without much effect. After the election, the new government will need to consider this issue afresh. Otherwise, children being born today will not be guaranteed the schooling they deserve.”

John Cater, vice-chancellor of Edge Hill University and author of the report, added: “There are worrying signs that the profession is failing to attract enough entrants and failing to retain existing teachers in sufficient numbers and with appropriate specialisms to deliver the revised curriculum to a rapidly increasing school-age population.

“This is no longer the time for old debates about the merits of different types of teacher training ... it is the time for all stakeholders to work together to ensure that an emerging issue does not manifest itself into a crisis which affects the life chances of a generation.”

Question 1: [2,5 POINTS] Indicate whether the following statements are true or false and write down which part of the text justifies your answer.

a)    A report about attracting people into teaching says that new teachers should not pay their debt after teaching for seven years.

b)    The growing lack of teachers is endangering the situation of the next generation of students

c)    The shortage of teachers is even worse in the centre of big cities

d)    The report claims that the bursaries offered to attract graduates into teaching are not effective enough.

e)    John Cater is worried because teaching does not attract new professionals and it does not retain enough old ones  

Question 2: [1,5 POINTS] Find words or phrases in the text that correspond to the words and definitions given

a)    to eliminate (par. 1)

b)    pardonable (par. 1)

       c)   to select (par. 4)

       d) value, advantage (par.8)

       e) to guarantee (par.8)

Question 3: [2 POINTS] Choose the most suitable answer (a, b or c) according to the text.

1. The report ….. on Thursday.

a.    was published

b.    will be published

c.    will have been published

    2. The problem .... badly.

a.    is affected by secondary schools

b.    affects secondary schools

c.    is struggling to recruit teachers

3  3.  Nick Hillman said policymakers .... in teacher training

a.    were not eager to intervene

b.    were willing to intervene

c.    were supposed to intervene

     4.  Children won’t be guaranteed the schooling they deserve ......

a.    even though the government considers this issue

b.    if the government considers this issue

c.    unless the government considers this issue

Question 4: [4 POINTS] Write a short essay (about 120-150 words) on the following topic:

“Education should be available to everyone”. What do you think?

Or

“Would you like to be a teacher? Why (not)? What are the advantages and disadvantages?

KEY

Question 1

1. True. New teachers should have their student debt wiped out after they have been in the profession for seven years, says a report on attracting more graduates into teaching

2. True. a growing shortage of teachers, which experts warn is threatening the life chances of a generation.

3. False. the problem being more acute in expensive commuter towns and villages, peripheral regions and coastal areas, says the report

4.  True.Large sums have been spent on bursaries for trainee teachers, but without much effect

5. True John Cater, vice-chancellor of Edge Hill University and author of the report, added: “There are worrying signs that the profession is failing to attract enough entrants and failing to retain existing teachers in sufficient numbers

Question 2

1. To wipe out

2.   forgivable

3. To recruit

4. Merit

5. To ensure

Question 3

1.  a  was published

2. b   affects secondary schools

3. b  were willing to intervene

4. c  unless the government considers this issue