UK DEAL OVER FOREIGN STAFF

[Talon]

DEAL OVER FOREIGN STAFF

The British Government has agreed a deal with Commonwealth countries to stop mass poaching of their teachers.

More than 20 Caribbean and African nations expressed alarm at the rate at which Britain is luring over their school staff with higher salaries.

The prolonged exodus is depriving the Commonwealth countries of much-needed teachers.

British schools took in more than 5,500 teachers from the nations last year, with almost 1,500 from South Africa alone.

The second biggest exporter was Jamaica which lost 523 teachers followed by Zimbabwe (268), Ghana (126) and Kenya (116).

The Government has already taken action to restrain private recruitment agencies which sign up the bulk of the workers.

A new agreement signed by the Department for Education and Skills and the 23 worst-affected Commonwealth states takes this further.

It warns that teaching agencies will lose their quality assurance mark if they take staff from countries which will face a shortage if they lose teachers.

Education minister Alan Johnson said: "With this quality assurance mark we will be saying to agencies: 'Don't recruit teachers who have a financial obligation to serve their country's needs,'."

http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30200-13211283,00.html