John Bangs on his way to listen to the
government ministers greets NUT members outside.
8 July 2003
Government schools' workload conference NUT
view
Speaking after the Government's workload
conference at the Victoria Plaza Hotel today, Tuesday 8 July, John Bangs, head
of education at the NUT, said
The NUT will not sign the agreement
because it allows non-qualified people to take whole classes without the
presence of a qualified teacher. That is a matter of principle.
The Union did not exclude itself from
the talks. It never refuses to talk to Government. It was excluded by the
Government. But the NUT is an independent, free trade union with the right to
agree or disagree with proposals from Government in the interests of the
teaching profession and the children in our schools.
The Government's desire to allow
non-qualified people to take over whole class teaching is in the interests of
neither. Classroom assistants and other support staff provide enormous help to
teachers and pupils. Like teachers, however, in many schools round the country
their jobs are being wiped out or are under threat because of the shortfall in
funding this year. That shortfall puts in jeopardy even those parts of the
agreement which do not involve non-qualified people taking whole classes.
Unless the Treasury releases additional
funding to make up that shortfall, the problem will be exacerbated next year
and in following years. Schools are already under severe strain and that
position will not improve unless the Treasury acts.
NOTE: go to
http://www.teachers.org.uk for the PDF
giving details of the guidance sent to NUT members about implementation of the
school workforce agreement. |
