Sex scandal to interrupt teacher selection process in Britain

Britain's education secretary announced an overhaul of the teacher selection system Thursday following a national scandal that erupted after newspaper reports revealed sex offenders were working in schools. Ruth Kelly told Britain's Parliament that all those convicted or cautioned for sex offenses would be barred from working with children. She promised "a new better system as quickly as possible."

"Nothing matters to parents more than the safety of their children, so I deeply regret the worry and concern that has been caused to parents over the last few days," Kelly said.

The issue of sex offenders in schools has dominated front pages since a newspaper reported earlier this month that the education department had cleared a man to work as a physical education teacher at a school in the eastern English city of Norwich even though he was on a list of offenders compiled by authorities. Kelly said the overhaul would make child protection the top priority of the teacher selection system while also preventing witch hunts, reports the AP. N.U.