Jack McConnell: "Attracting the best talent"

The review will involve the General Teaching Council Scotland (GTCS), NUS Scotland and teacher education institutes.

Initial findings will be reported by next February.

Entry requirements vary depending on the training institution and on the type of degree course a potential teacher has taken.

Mr McConnell said: "This campaign is aimed at attracting the best of Scotland's talent to the teaching profession.

"The review of entry requirements I am announcing today will further enhance this by improving access and increasing the diversity of teaching staff.

We must capitalise on this enthusiasm and experience if we are to train the best teachers for our schools

Jack McConnell

"It will also consider the changing nature of degree courses in the Higher Education system and how those relate to Initial Teacher Education.

"I know there are a great number of enthusiastic people with a wealth of business and other skills who want to become teachers but who are unable to do so because of the current entry requirements.

"We must capitalise on this enthusiasm and experience if we are to train the best teachers for our schools."

The recruitment campaign features television adverts and a dedicated website to deal with enquiries.

The Education Institute of Scotland (EIS) warned in June that a massive recruitment programme would have to be undertaken to avert a "staffing crisis".

General secretary Ronnie Smith said in some parts of the country there were simply no teachers available to fill vacancies as they occurred.