Teachers to prove personal skills

Those looking to work in the adult teaching profession will now have to prove their literacy, numeracy and information communication technology (ICT) abilities before they can take up a position, according to new guidelines from the Institute for Learning.

Produced with the support of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, Lifelong Learning UK and Standards Verification UK, the measures are a response to a new requirement that teacher's personal skills must be evidenced before they can achieve a professional qualification in adult education.

Work is now underway to identify suitable methods of qualification and assessment, before the scheme is launched in September of this year.

The requirement for teachers to prove their ICT capabilities will come into force at a later date, although this skill is of growing importance in the classroom, both in schools and for life-long learners.

Roy Barker, Director of the British Educational Suppliers Association, recently suggested that technology provides a valuable 'teaching resource' in the classroom.