The number of unqualified teachers working in state schools has increased sharply, according to new figures released by the Conservatives.
The number of teachers without Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), the Government's official teaching qualification, has increased from 2,940 in 1997 to 16,710 in 2007.
Two thirds of the five-fold increase in unqualified teachers - 2,480 in 1997 and 16,710 in 2007 - come from overseas, prompting fears that the Government is being forced to look abroad for teaching staff.
The Conservative shadow schools secretary, Michael Gove, expressed his surprise at the figures at a time when the Government is advising that every state school teacher should hold QTS.
Mr Gove said: "Ed Balls says he wants every teacher to have a masters degree but he's presiding over a system where more and more teachers don't even have the basic qualification he demands. Once again there is a gap between the government's spin and what happens in practice.
"The huge increase in the number of teachers from abroad is partly due to the fact that so many British teachers are leaving the profession. Increasing problems in many schools with discipline and bureaucracy simply put many people off."
A spokesman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) commented that: "The standard of teaching in our schools has never been better, indeed, Ofsted tells us that we have the best generation of teachers ever in our schools.
"These figures need to be seen in context. Teaching is the second most popular career choice for UK graduates and there are almost 40,000 more teachers in our schools than in 1997."
Teachers who qualify overseas are required to convert to QTS within four years of taking up a teaching post in the UK.
The number of teachers without Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), the Government's official teaching qualification, has increased from 2,940 in 1997 to 16,710 in 2007.
Two thirds of the five-fold increase in unqualified teachers - 2,480 in 1997 and 16,710 in 2007 - come from overseas, prompting fears that the Government is being forced to look abroad for teaching staff.
The Conservative shadow schools secretary, Michael Gove, expressed his surprise at the figures at a time when the Government is advising that every state school teacher should hold QTS.
Mr Gove said: "Ed Balls says he wants every teacher to have a masters degree but he's presiding over a system where more and more teachers don't even have the basic qualification he demands. Once again there is a gap between the government's spin and what happens in practice.
"The huge increase in the number of teachers from abroad is partly due to the fact that so many British teachers are leaving the profession. Increasing problems in many schools with discipline and bureaucracy simply put many people off."
A spokesman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) commented that: "The standard of teaching in our schools has never been better, indeed, Ofsted tells us that we have the best generation of teachers ever in our schools.
"These figures need to be seen in context. Teaching is the second most popular career choice for UK graduates and there are almost 40,000 more teachers in our schools than in 1997."
Teachers who qualify overseas are required to convert to QTS within four years of taking up a teaching post in the UK.
