TRAINEE TEACHERS AND UNIVERSITY TOP-UP FEES

Early day motion 1229, tabled 8 December 2005 by Paul Farrelly (Labour). Signed by 104 members.

That this House notes the forthcoming introduction of variable fees of up to £3,000 for students studying for a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) from September 2006; notes that this marks a considerable shift from the present situation, where PGCE courses are provided at no cost to student teachers; believes that teachers are valuable public sector workers and that student teachers should not be required to pay to train; is concerned that the introduction of variable top-up fees on PGCE courses will deter potential trainees from poorer, non-traditional backgrounds and will undermine measures introduced by the Government which have reversed the trend of falling applications for initial teacher training courses; and calls on the Government urgently to review its plans to charge students on initial teacher training courses for their tuition.

Signatures by party: Labour 62, Liberal Democrat 27, DUP 4, Conservative 3, Social Democratic and Labour Party 3, Plaid Cymru 2, Scottish National Party 2, UUP 1.