THERE have been many initiatives in recent years aimed at integrating Asian pupils and making them feel part of mainstream education and to improve their exam results as a result.

But today it appears that one major area is still causing problems -- despite education authority efforts to resolve them.

The reality is stark -- East Lancashire, with its high Asian population, doesn't have anywhere near enough Asian teachers.

And, from some reason, ethnic minority people do not seem attracted to the profession.

The concerns were prompted after latest Government statistics, obtained by the Evening Telegraph, show that only three per cent (42) of Blackburn with Darwen Council's 1,400 teachers are Asian.

Although meeting the national average, the figures have been greeted with alarm as one in five residents in the borough are Asian -- one of the highest levels in the country.

Lancashire County Council does even worse, with less than one per cent (74) of the 9,330 teachers on its books from an Asian background.

The benefits of being taught by somebody of the same culture and background are obvious.

The presence of Asian teachers also helps pupils feel part of the community of the school which they attend.

Clearly more needs to be done. But as, Asian education experts are quick to point out, the Asian community itself also has a responsibility to encourage more people to take up the profession.