low graphics version | feedback | help
| Front Page World UK UK Politics Business Sci/Tech Health |
| Education |
|
Correspondents How the Education Systems Work |
| Sport Entertainment Talking Point In Depth AudioVideo |
Trainee teachers boycott maths tests
Trainee teachers are expected to sit the tests in June
Students at Britain's largest postgraduate teacher training institution have voted to boycott the first round of numeracy tests for trainee teachers in the summer.
The students at the University of London's Institute of Education say they are "insulted" at having to sit the tests when they all have a grade C or above in GCSE maths, and some of them have degrees in the subject.
The students at the University of London's Institute of Education say they are "insulted" at having to sit the tests when they all have a grade C or above in GCSE maths, and some of them have degrees in the subject.
It's ludicrous that when we've all got GCSE maths, and some people have got maths and science degrees, that we have to take a numeracy test  |
Neek Alyani
|
They also say they are unhappy with the way the compulsory tests have been introduced, as many students had signed up for this year's course before knowing about the tests.
The numeracy test is the first of three tests being introduced by the government to ensure that all new teachers have a thorough grounding in the use of numeracy, literacy and information and communications technology.
Some 25,000 final year trainees in England are due to sit the first paper-based numeracy test on 1 June.
Transitional arrangements
If they do not succeed they will need to pass the test at some stage to complete their first, induction, year and continue teaching in a state school or special school.
Their second chance will be in July, and they can have three more attempts during their induction year.
These transitional arrangements were made for trainees who were already on their courses when the tests were announced.
The numeracy test is the first of three tests being introduced by the government to ensure that all new teachers have a thorough grounding in the use of numeracy, literacy and information and communications technology.
Some 25,000 final year trainees in England are due to sit the first paper-based numeracy test on 1 June.
Transitional arrangements
If they do not succeed they will need to pass the test at some stage to complete their first, induction, year and continue teaching in a state school or special school.
Their second chance will be in July, and they can have three more attempts during their induction year.
These transitional arrangements were made for trainees who were already on their courses when the tests were announced.
We have been working closely with providers to implement the tests smoothly |
Teacher Training Agency
|
Neek Alyani, president of the institute's students' union, said its members had narrowly voted to boycott the 1 June test date.
They were hoping to gain support of other teaching training institutions in their campaign against the tests.
He said: "The issue is not the fact that we feel the tests are a threat, but the fact that we feel they're not being implemented properly, and they're not being piloted.
"It's ludicrous that when we've all got GCSE maths, and some people have got maths and science degrees, that we have to take a numeracy test."
But he added that the union would not ask students to jeopardise their teaching careers by boycotting all opportunities to sit the tests.
'Detailed guidance'
A spokeswoman for the Teacher Training Agency said: "We have been working closely with providers to implement the tests smoothly, and it is in the interests of trainees to pass the tests before their induction period.
"The job of the TTA is to manage the implementation well. We wrote to all initial teacher training providers on 15 June 1999 confirming that the numeracy tests would be introduced in the summer term 2000.
"Further updates were provided in July and October and a detailed guidance booklet sent to initial teacher training providers for distribution to all final year trainees in September.
"Sample questions and support materials are now available to ensure trainees feel confident and well-prepared."
They were hoping to gain support of other teaching training institutions in their campaign against the tests.
He said: "The issue is not the fact that we feel the tests are a threat, but the fact that we feel they're not being implemented properly, and they're not being piloted.
"It's ludicrous that when we've all got GCSE maths, and some people have got maths and science degrees, that we have to take a numeracy test."
But he added that the union would not ask students to jeopardise their teaching careers by boycotting all opportunities to sit the tests.
'Detailed guidance'
A spokeswoman for the Teacher Training Agency said: "We have been working closely with providers to implement the tests smoothly, and it is in the interests of trainees to pass the tests before their induction period.
"The job of the TTA is to manage the implementation well. We wrote to all initial teacher training providers on 15 June 1999 confirming that the numeracy tests would be introduced in the summer term 2000.
"Further updates were provided in July and October and a detailed guidance booklet sent to initial teacher training providers for distribution to all final year trainees in September.
"Sample questions and support materials are now available to ensure trainees feel confident and well-prepared."
|
Search BBC News Online |
|
|
 Advanced search options | |
| |
 | |
 | |
| |
 | BBC RADIO NEWS |
| |
| |
 | BBC ONE TV NEWS |
| |
| |
| WORLD NEWS SUMMARY |
| |
| |
| |
| |
 | PROGRAMMES GUIDE |
See also:
Internet links:
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites
Other top Education stories:
Links to top Education stories are at the foot of the page.
E-mail this story to a friend
~RS~a~RS~international~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~01~RS~)