Recruitment Levels

The central point of concern of the student and teacher organisations' opposition to the Labour Government's plans to phase out student teachers bonded allowances was their fear that lower allowances would not attract students to teachers' colleges. Although recruitment levels were high, the students and teachers argued that that gave teachers' college selection committees a greater ability to select keen and able teacher trainees.

The students and teachers pointedly reminded the Labour Government how a decision, on financial grounds, in the 1930's to close the training colleges had left the country with a drastic teacher shortage in later years. The message was that the Government could not foresee the potentially disastrous effects its plans for student teachers might have on future levels of recruitment to the teaching profession.

The Labour Government also came in for some harsh criticism for its refusal to consult with the student and teacher organisations before announcing its plans for student teachers in the Budget.

It wasn't until Amos's announcement on 19 August that this message finally got through to the Labour Government. In September the Director-General of Educations convened a meeting with representatives of the employing authorities, the teacher organisations and the student organisations to discuss student teachers' allowances from 1977 on. These discussions were still continuing when the Labour Government was defeated at the November General Election.