Deferral on teachers' retirement

Plans to curtail early retirements by teachers have been put off until after the general election amid widespread protests from the profession, ministers will announce today.

Teachers who had been told their chances of leaving their jobs early would be severely reduced from April will now hear that the changes will not take place until September. The move will delight unions which had launched two High Court actions against the plans. Last month the Prime Minister ruled out any climbdown on the plans. The Government wants to cut early retirements by 25 per cent to end recent increases which have led teachers in their mid-50s to expect pension enhancements. Fran Abrams