Official Report 196KB pdf
Teachers (Medical Requirements for Admission to Training and Registration) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2004 (SSI 2004/390)
Item 1 on the agenda is consideration of a statutory instrument that is subject to the negative procedure. I understand that the purpose of the regulations is to remove the medical requirements that relate to admission to teacher training and entitlement to registration by the General Teaching Council for Scotland. A note from the Executive is attached to the regulations.
I do not have much to add to what you said, convener. The requirement to undergo a medical test before entering teacher training or applying for registration at the end of training is regarded as anachronistic. The requirement was introduced about the same time as the General Teaching Council for Scotland was established, in 1965, and has remained in place since then. Teaching is the only profession that requires medical checks before training and teachers are the only local government employees who are required to undergo a medical test other than as an employment matter. The need for a medical test before registration is no longer appropriate.
The Executive's note says that the policy objectives of the requirement related to the need to protect children from tuberculosis and other such illnesses, so the provision is no longer thought to be necessary.
There are many other diseases and infections around nowadays, but they are often progressive illnesses that would not be spotted during a superficial medical examination.
The regulations seem fairly straightforward. If there are no strong objections, do members agree to make no recommendation on the instrument to the Parliament?
I thank the witness for his starring role this morning.