FEARS have been raised pupils in Worcestershire are being ‘robbed of a decent education’ due to the amount of unqualified teachers in schools across the country.
Latest figures published by the Department of Education revealed there were more than 17,000 unqualified staff teaching in state-funded schools nationwide.
This led Councillor Paul Denham to urge county council bosses to launch an investigation into the situation at a meeting last Thursday (May 14) as he feared it was putting the education of thousands of children in jeopardy.
He said: “Would we be happy to use an unqualified doctor, nurse, accountant, architect, surveyor, solicitor or engineer? I don’t think so.”
The Labour councillor, who is a former teacher, said he felt unqualified staff were being ‘abused and exploited’ by schools and believed it was denying qualified teachers the chance of employment.
Councillors voted against the pursuing the matter further.