Many teachers 'lack subject expertise'

Many education workers lack expertise in the subjects that they teach, new data suggests.

Figures from the Department for Education show that a quarter of those who teach maths do not have a degree or postgraduate qualification in the subject, the Daily Telegraph reports.

In addition, 29 per cent of geography and 21 per cent of English teachers do not hold high-level qualifications in these areas.

Alam Smithers, professor of education at Buckingham University, said in-depth subject knowledge is a "necessary condition to being a good teacher".

"It is very concerning that a lot of our young people are not being introduced to subjects by teachers with the necessary expertise in them," he commented.

Mr Smithers added that this is particularly the case in subjects such as maths, where British children do not learn as much as their international counterparts.

He added that the figures show how difficult it will be for the coalition to realise its ambition of having excellent teachers in all schools.

Posted by Dolcie Thacker
 

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