Supply teaching agencies in Gainsborough are seeking to expand their rosters. There is a huge shortage of supply teachers across the UK. Some critics have compared the overall shortage of teachers to ‘the third world’. Now, this of course is bad news if you are a parent or a student.
However, if you specialise in teaching, then at least somebody has reason to rejoice. Of course, this isn’t to trivialize the situation here. David Hart, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, is on record stating (that) “No advanced industrialized country should have to seek teachers abroad”
The saddest thing here is the aims of the education system, versus the reality of what’s happening right now. Everyone who dreams of becoming a teacher tends to hold an ideal about ‘shaping young minds’. Teachers in the UK however, are more akin to mercenaries, working for the highest bidder. This means very little loyalty to their students.
Supply teaching agencies in Gainsborough have their doors open wide, but nobody seems to be stepping up. A nation outsourcing its education is a very ominous sign. It only takes a little bit of common sense to come to the conclusion: The best teacher for your child comes from your community. This is especially true for the earliest years of education.
The aging population trend is partially to blame for this crisis. Long term sickness and retirement are carving into the supply of eligible teachers. The fact is, replacement teachers cannot seem to be trained fast enough. There just aren’t enough people available to teach! (Ironically, pregnancy is also dramatically reducing the available teachers.)
The situation is bad, and it’s only getting worse. Budget cuts, and the existing lack of teachers, are placing additional stress on the ones who remain. This inevitably leads to more teachers taking time off for health issues, retiring early, or outright changing careers. We are slowly watching the UK’s education system implode, and the children are not the only ones who will suffer.
At this point it is not unimaginable to have a repeat of the education crisis in 1996. Unless this issue is addressed immediately we could be facing a situation where four out of every ten 11-year-olds will not be literate. Unfortunately, rather than learning from our mistakes, we seem to be charging backwards in history.
When it comes to slashing government expenditure, education should be one of the absolute last things on the chopping block. Education is vital for the success of a nation, to the point that it should be defended at all costs, not sacrificed to cut them.
This issue has to be addressed, and soon. Time, however, waits for no man. Government is notoriously slow, so it is up to the people to rise to the occasion. Competing in this highly globalized world is tough. Our youth need the best education they can possibly get. The fact is, children can’t learn unless someone takes on the thankless job of teaching them. Everything worthwhile in life requires sacrifice. Maybe, if the right people step up now, a well-educated generation could avoid repeating the same mistakes of this government.