Howells: "Every precaution" to ensure teacher supply

They are likely to get an automatic grant of �1,200 to help cover the costs, the Higher Education Minister, Kim Howells, told MPs.

But that may still leave many to find �1,800 on top of any debt accumulated while doing their first degrees.

The Conservatives say this is likely to deter people from entering teaching.

Review

The subject came up during education questions in the Commons.

Dr Howells said that currently the �1,150 tuition fee was waived for those on the one-year Post Graduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) course - the most common route to qualifying as a teacher.

He confirmed that when variable fees are introduced in 2006, teacher training institutions will be able to charge the full �3,000 fee.

"But we area working on the basis that ... the first �1,200 of the �2,700 maintenance grant will be non-means-tested for PGCE students," he said.

A review of the impact of the new variable fees - called the Gateways to the Professions review - has been promised.

Dr Howells said this might result in changes to the student support arrangements.

Debt

It was suggested there would be an anomaly - with those changing careers through the Graduate Teacher Programme training on the job and not being charged fees.

Dr Howells promised MPs "that we will be seeking a good take-up of PGCE places and that we will ensure a good supply of teachers into the system".

His Conservative shadow, Chris Grayling, said the fee changes were "very bad news" for student teachers.

"These are fourth-year students who have already run up the cost of university, who are now going to see a significant increase in their debt - which means fewer people will come forward to do these courses."

A Conservative government would reverse the changes and abolish tuition fees.

Dr Howells retorted that this was "speaking with a forked tongue with a vengeance".

"This lot," he said, indicating the Tory benches, "want to cut the number of teachers".

No-one should be taken in by their "weasel words".