WE are solidly behind any initiative which improves standards in schools.

But paying parents to help out in the classroom is not the way forward.

Our story yesterday highlighted the fact that education chiefs are hoping to put a large number of adults into schools to help teachers raise standards.

They say this would benefit children by giving them additional adult contact and also provide vital stepping stones for adults who want to get back into full-time work.

The only way this would benefit the adults would be if they wanted to become teachers. If this is their ambition they should train just as the professional teachers have done.

Paying unqualified people to help "raise standards" is an insult to teachers.

If we have not enough teachers in our schools, then that matter should be addressed. The answer is not to involve untrained parents.

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