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The Secretary of State pledged at Douglas that the government would during the seventies introduce the compulsory training of all school teachers — a reform that would prevent untrained graduates from entering teaching. Its introduction in 1970 was recommended several years ago by the National Advisory Council for the Training and Supply of Teachers. Soon afterwards the Russell Report — of a subcommittee of the same Council — recommended the introduction of compulsory training for new entrants to further education. Mr Short has not yet made any statement about the training of FE teachers but he should consider this. Now, when the idea of a unified sector of tertiary education is rapidly gaining support, it is of great importance to keep FE and the schools in step in this matter. If compulsory training were introduced for all school teachers without a corresponding reform in FE, at least for the teaching of younger FE students, the ultimate unification of the education of the 15–18 age group would be made more difficult. In any event the FE sector cannot afford to let policy about the training of its teachers go by default.