PLANNING teacher training numbers is obviously a necessary exercise. As with all such exercises, their predictions need not materialise which, in many cases, turns out to be a blessing. It’s a blessing for which Scottish universities training primary teachers might well be praying.
Early Scottish Government projections for 2018-19 indicate the number of students receiving postgraduate training – the main route into the profession – could be reduced on quite a drastic scale. That is to say, a drop of 736 places, from 1,186 to 450.
Needless to say, such figures have set off alarm bells among universities providing courses for such students. Not only would they suffer a loss of income, but there could be consequences for course provision and the prospect of employing lecturers on a more ad hoc basis, causing a lack of continuity in instruction.
Of course, there is no point in providing teacher training for its own sake, regardless of demographics. The Scottish Government points to a trend in which the pupil roll is “stabilising”. Aware of likely criticism, however, it stresses the projections are based on statistics from the “teacher workforce planning tool” rather than final targets.
Variables to be considered will include the number of teachers leaving or returning to the profession – plus those retiring or staying on – and the number of students not completing courses. It’s also fair to point out a planned increase in training places for secondary school teachers might mitigate the overall effect on universities.
Still, the universities will have genuine concerns about getting primary teacher numbers right. Too often, we have seemed to find ourselves with a feast or famine of teachers, and it’s difficult for universities to deal with fluctuating figures. As ever, the key will be for all parties concerned to sit down together and discuss what is needed and how to attain it. The Scottish Government has stressed the projections are just a “starting point for discussions”. Fine. Then let those discussions begin.
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