GTCE abolition gets mixed response from teachers

Government efforts to give professionals in teaching jobs more freedom have been met with a mixed response from teachers' unions.

Last week, education secretary Michael Gove said the General Teaching Council for England (GTCE) would be abolished, as the government believes it is another layer of bureaucracy that does little to raise standards in the profession.

According to the National Union of Teachers (NUT), people in teaching jobs have long felt "over-scrutinised" under the GTCE.

As a result, it believes that any replacement must distance itself from the view that a "watchdog can also reserve the right to make intrusive judgments on teachers' personal lives".

Christine Blower, general secretary of the NUT, also suggested that teachers be consulted on whether a professional council for teachers should be maintained.

However, Mary Bousted of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers has described the decision to scrap the GTCE as a "blow" to teacher professionalism.

She said the body added a "strong, professional and evidence-based" voice to education debate.

Posted by Alan Douglas





Published On 07/06/2010