at the same time beginning teachers should be given every opportunity to work in a stable and wellsupported school environment and the probation decision should be taken by a panel which is well trained and resourced for assessing new teachers first initial teacher education can be made more selective as no teacher shortage exists potentially useful initiatives include providing more information and counselling to prospective student teachers so that better informed enrolment decisions are made procedures that try to assess whether the individuals wanting to become teachers have the necessary motivation skills knowledge and personal qualities incentive schemes to recruit candidates with highlevel competencies and flexible programme structures that provide students with school experience early in the course and opportunities to move into other courses if their motivation towards teaching changes