Quality education takes centre stage across the UK as unions call for policy change
National teachers’ unions across the UK delivered a similar message in support of their members and students, calling for quality education and targeting government policy as members congregated at their annual conferences throughout the Easter break.
In Brighton and Birmingham, Britain’s biggest teachers’ unions, The National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT), both pointed fingers at the UK Government, specifically aiming at Education Secretary Michael Gove.
“Recent NUT surveys show that half of parents and [79%] of teachers believe the Coalition Government has had a negative impact on the education system,” said NUT General Secretary, and European Trade Union Committee for Education President, Christine Blower. “Only 29% of parents said that they would vote for one of the Coalition parties if there was a general election tomorrow.”
Blower called for the government to act, and threatened strike action if changes are not made. She cited that low morale among teachers, largely brought on by 60-hour workweeks, low pay, and pension changes, is driving many from the profession.
“The Union will be engaging with parents and the general public, pressuring politicians and, if significant progress is not made in talks with the Government, the Union will be taking strike action and seeking to coordinate with other unions in late June, including with NASUWT.”
Although NASUWT has not committed to a strike, saying it will sit down with NUT to discuss options, General Secretary Chris Keates wasted no time pointing out what his union sees as the root of the problem in achieving quality education.
“The Coalition’s economic strategy and education policies have betrayed a generation of young people,” he said. “They have presided over record levels of youth unemployment, downgrading of vocational education, access to further and higher education restricted by the abolition of the Education Maintenance Allowance, the trebling of tuition fees and employers absolved from any responsibility for providing high-quality apprenticeship and training opportunities.”
“The talents of our young people are being squandered and life chances destroyed. Balancing the books at the expense of those on whom the future economic success of this country depends is scandalous.”
Teachers face health risks
From the 14-16 April in Manchester, the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) addressed similar issues involving the pressures applied to teachers, but looked closely at how long hours and a lack of support was affecting their health.
According to a survey of more than 900 education staff conducted by ATL, there has been a rise in mental health problems among teaching professionals over the past two years. The results show that up to 55% of those working in education say their job is negatively impacting their mental health, and nearly seven in every 10 educators hide the issues from their employers.
In light of the survey, the ATL took aim at the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills, or Ofsted inspections, also attacked by the NUT, that are being blamed for causing undue amounts of stress to teachers.
Mary Bousted, General Secretary of ATL, said that although she is shocked at the statistics, they are not surprising given that teachers are “under constant intense pressure to meet targets, with excessive observation, changes in the curriculum and Ofsted inspections.”
Martin Rømer, ETUCE European Director, pointed to the ETUCE’s report “Teacher Trade Unions in Solidarity for Healthy and Safe Workplaces in the Economic Crisis” as an essential guide to maintaining good health among education workers.
“The health of our teachers has a direct impact on the level of quality education our students receive,” said Rømer. “So it is essential that teachers’ health remains at the forefront of education policy, especially during times of crisis.”
Bousted echoed her counterparts at NUT and NASUWT by calling for greater support for education professionals, and urged schools and colleges to make the necessary adjustments needed to improve working conditions.
