Uk’s Military To Mentors: Inspired By US’s Troops To Teachers

It has been more than two years since the government of the United Kingdom gained inspiration from the United States Department of Defense’s Troops to Teachers programme. Britain tapped its Department for Education to spearhead its own version of the American initiative under the former’s policy of Improving the Quality of Teaching and Leadership.

The Grant

The UK government announced in 2011 the conception of a financial grant that will facilitate the training of former military workers to become inspirational school staff. England released a £1.5 million grant to the charity SkillForce to set up and start in September of that year three pilot programmes the Military to Mentors, Zero Exclusion Pilot and Expand SkillForce Core Programme.

The Education

Since the launch of the programmes, ex-personnel of the military service have been, in an expedited manner, prepared for the teaching service and introduced to the school system. Their skills and experience on the frontline have been capitalised on as an important factor as effective helpers to young people in becoming achievers in school, future career and life.

The Programmes

The Military to Mentors leads the two other programmes. In its first year, training was given to 100 ex-Service personnel. They started the many batches of mentors that work with youth in and out of the schools across England. Aside from SkillsForce, Endeavour and the Knowsley Skills Academy also facilitates the trainees. In connection with the programme facilitating the transition of the former personnel of the military to teaching, another is also dedicated for the youth who are at risk of exclusion from school. It started with 100 youths of the given description being provided support by SkillForce.

More Beneficiaries

The third programme called Expand SkillForce Core involves on-going projects being poured in with more investment wherein instructors from military backgrounds are teamed up to work with disadvantaged young people to help them in gaining qualifications. Parts of the country with high unemployment and deprivation will be identified, 340 more youths will be selected and will be given support. The programme partly involves elements of the Zero Exclusion pilot.

Inspired by the US Troops to Teachers

The UK government, with inspiration from the success of the Troops to Teachers programme of the US Department of Defense, want their Armed Forces leavers to enter another fulfilling career after their military service. Such work is making use of their talents in contributing in raising school standards. Military service leavers who want to enter another career which involves a higher level of making a difference in the lives of other people are given by the government all the kinds of support. Financial subsidies are being given. Participants have the opportunities of gaining degree level qualifications for a teaching career through a specially designed fast-tracked undergraduate programme. These people already have the relevant experience and skills to be able to do so.