An initative to vastly increase the number of maths and science teachers across America has been endorsed by President Obama, with the aim of training 5,000 new teachers over the next five years.

The programme, UTeach, originated in 1997 at the University of Texas at Austin as a system to allow students studying maths and science to pursue a teaching certificate at the same time.

Over the last 13 years the programme has spread across the United States and is now active in 14 schools, with the Dallas-based National Math and Science Initiative supporting the expansion further.

“Our future depends on reaffirming America’s role as the world’s engine of scientific discovery and technological innovation,” Obama said at a White House ceremony Wednesday. “And that leadership tomorrow depends on how we educate our students today, especially in math, science, technology and engineering.”

Obama was joined at the ceremony by representatives from Dell Computers and Texas Instruments, amongst others, where the latters chief executive Rich Templeton praised the initiative:

“This is about putting great teachers in front of our kids,” Templeton said. “The president is very focused on that passion personally, and also, he understands the economics and the implications for us to compete globally.”

“It is not a debate of should it be done or can it be done,” Templeton added. “It is a matter how soon can we get this done.”