Tory plans to give former soldiers free teacher training were welcomed with caution today by members of the Armed forces commenting on the Army Rumour Service website.

The move to get ex-soldiers into teaching would help improve order in the classroom, according to Michael Gove, the Shadow Schools Secretary.

Current soldiers appeared to welcome the proposals which include free university places for soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

On the forum entitled “Soldiers as teachers …a good idea?” on the Army Rumour Service, one commenter wrote: “I can imagine it now. 0730: Smartly dressed ex military men and women turning up 15 minutes early, for their first day in teaching at ‘problem school’. 0805: Whole school doing knees to chest for being scruffy and idle. 0845: Whole school repeating knees to chest as ‘the message didn't get through’…. 3 months later - academic results improve, discipline problems are a thing of the past.”

However another was concerned that a Conservative government should also consider the “basic care of soldiers and their families starting with accommodation and pay.”

The ideas are based on the Troops to Teachers programme in the US, which helps former soldiers make the transition to the classroom.

In a speech to the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham tomorrow, Mr Gove will say: “In 1945 the American government honoured the men and women who’d fought against fascism - the greatest generation - with a piece of legislation, the GI Bill, which granted returning heroes the right to free university education.”

Britain should offer the same to those fighting abroad, he will add, promising that bursaries of £9,000 would be available to 200 ex-service personnel who take post-graduate teacher training.

Anybody who has undertaken an active tour of duty would get their tuition fees paid on a first degree. Mr Gove expects 1,000 ex-forces men and women to take up the offer.

The Tories also pledge to expand a charity, Skill Force, which trains ex-forces leaders to address schools in disadvantaged areas.

“The young men and women serving in Afghanistan and Iraq are heroes of our time, their sacrifices in the cause of freedom make them the greatest of our generation, and they deserve the thanks of all of us,” he will say.

“That is why a Conservative government will honour their service by guaranteeing them the right to free university education.”

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