Meritocracy

The Institute for Public Policy Research reports that the education system is finally taking on board the good example provided by the Government in preventing waste and ensuring the efficient utilisation of human resources. It is estimated by that well-known voice, the Journalistic Passive Omniscient, that ten per cent of teachers are failing to make their quotas of pupil grades, classroom embloatment, military propaganda or whatever the Government is using to assess standards this month; these slackers are "potentially eligible for the system of 'capability reviews' instituted to identify weak staff, assess their failings and, where possible, help them improve", but the IPPR claims that "a significant number of teachers placed under review had escaped retraining by resigning and getting jobs elsewhere", just like Geoff Hoon, Ruth Kelly, Jack Straw, Patsy Hackitt the Nurses' Friend, Gordon Brown and Tony Blair.

The IPPR says that this is "likely to lead to clusters of bad teachers in the most difficult schools since they can least afford to be fussy about recruiting, meaning the neediest pupils may end up with disproportionately poor teaching", much as complex ministries like the Home Office may end up with the sort of crooks, twits and thugs of which Agent Smith is merely the latest example.

The IPPR also notes that "the current pay system does not encourage teachers to improve because they can get more money without having to demonstrate new skills". Imagine that.