British schools distressed by teacher recruitment "crisis": survey

Schools in England and Wales are now struggling to recruit enough teachers in the primary and secondary sectors, latest survey revealed Wednesday.

An annual recruitment survey, carried out by NAHT, an independent trade union and professional association, showed that 79 percent of schools who advertised vacancies said recruitment was a problem.

A total of 2,135 schools leaders joined the survey in October and November this year, said NAHT.

Survey said that respondents reported the growing problem of teachers leaving the profession in their area in this year, as figures more than doubled over the last year, being cited by 33 percent of respondents, up from 15 percent in 2014.

One of the common reasons of recruitment difficulties in London and the South East England was because the rising housing and living costs.

In addition, the average recruitment costs spending on recruitment agencies also increased from 3,000 pounds to 10,000 per vacancy.

"The Education Committee today asks whether there is a crisis in the recruitment of teachers and school leaders; our evidence clearly shows that there is," said Russell Hobby, general secretary of school leaders' union NAHT.

Hobby will present the survey results to British MPs later Wednesday. He said more investment in the professional development of teachers, both at a school and at a national and regional level, are needed.

"The recruitment crisis has created a growing role for teacher recruitment and supply agencies, adding cost and complexity to teacher recruitment for schools. NAHT will be working with agencies and schools to address the issues involved. The government should reconsider their recent decision to reduce the investment in primary sector initial teacher training and review their assumptions about the numbers of new primary teachers needed," he added. Endit