Indian math, science and language teachers are in high demand in the United Kingdom, a local media outlet had reported. The UK government plans to recruit hundred of these for these subjects under the International Relocation Payments (IRP) scheme. The scheme is an overseas drive paying over Rs10 lakh to relocate in order to fill classroom vacancies in England.
Hundreds of math, science and language teachers will be brought to the UK from countries such as India and Nigeria this year, with plans to expand recruitment schemes to other countries and subjects, The Times newspaper said.
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the UK’s National Association of Head Teachers, told The Times that overseas recruitment “is, at best, a temporary solution”.
“In March we launched a one-year trial offering no more than 400 of the best teachers from around the world the opportunity to teach in our schools. This is one of many options we are exploring to ensure there is an excellent teacher for every child,” the Department for Education (DfE) said in a statement.
What is International Relocation Payments (IRP)?
The International Relocation Payments (IRP), being run as a pilot in the 2023 to 2024 academic year, is applicable to overseas teachers with a job offer in the UK and covers their cost of visas, immigration health surcharge and other relocation expenses.
IRP teacher recruitment in UK: Countries included
In an effort to boost the number of teachers, the government has begun an overseas recruitment initiative under which teachers of math, science and language-teaching qualifications from India, Ghana, Singapore, Jamaica, Nigeria, South Africa and Zimbabwe are being recognised.
IRP teacher recruitment in UK: Eligibility
Eligible teachers must have a degree, recognised teacher-training qualifications, and at least a year’s experience and they need to speak English to the undergraduate level.
Such professionals are eligible for visas to work in Britain if they have a job offer and earn a minimum salary that depends on their role, usually around over ₹27 lakhs (GBP 27,000) per annum.
IRP teacher recruitment in UK: Expectations
UK officials reportedly expect between 300 and 400 teachers to get the IRPs in the coming academic year and if it proves a success in attracting overseas staff, the scheme could be extended to other subjects.
The move comes at a time when there is a raging debate over the UK’s record net migration figures released earlier this week, which British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak admitted were “too high”.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman has set out plans for a clampdown on family dependants on student visas being limited only to PhD level graduates.
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Updated: 27 May 2023, 07:14 PM IST
