Men urged to consider taking up teaching jobs in primaries

There has "never been a better time" to be a teacher, according to schools minister Jim Knight.

The politician was speaking to the Sunday Telegraph in response to news that a quarter of primary schools in England do not have a single male teacher.

Despite a government campaign to combat this problem, 4,587 primary schools across the country are without a male member of teaching staff, according to figures released under the Freedom of Information Act.

Mr Knight told the news source that he acknowledges that there is a need to do more to tackle "false perceptions" among some men about the role of primary school teachers.

And child psychologist Professor Tanya Byron urged the government to help challenge some "negative and unhelpful belief systems" that put men off taking up teaching jobs in primaries.

This follows calls by the television presenter last week for school staff and parents to focus more on learning about the internet so they can protect children from potential online dangers.




Published On 23/03/2009