TEACHERS are being readied to fight back against "constant attacks" on the profession, a major conference has heard.
Members of the NASUWT are meeting in Belfast this weekend for the union's Northern Ireland annual conference.
Motions on a range of issues affecting the teaching profession and education will be debated. High on the agenda are budget cuts, teacher stress, governance and flexible working.
In her conference address, NASUWT Northern Ireland President Louise O'Prey said education in the north had faced particularly challenging times with unprecedented and debilitating budget cuts, attacks on pay and pensions for teachers and massive reductions in career professional development opportunities.
Ms O'Prey said she was optimistic rather than downhearted, however, and urged members to "tackle head-on and without apology, the constant attacks on teachers".
The power of collective action could not, and would not, be ignored, she warned.
"The united strength and determination of our members is giving us the power to have a real impact on the new programme for government in the upcoming elections. Over the next few months colleagues, we have an invaluable opportunity to really make the voice of teachers in Northern Ireland heard and to make sure that voice is listened to."
The conference heard that the economic climate was making it difficult to present teaching as an attractive option to graduates. Teachers' pay had fallen dramatically as a result of year on year public sector pay restraint, Ms O'Prey added.
Unions jointly rejected a pay offer from the Department of Education this week. The Northern Ireland Teachers Council, which represents the five unions, said members were offered a 1 per cent pay rise in 2016/17.
"With regard to the derisory pay offer and conditions the department wish to impose, I say not only is it too little, too late, but it is an actual insult to the teaching profession and I am proud that we in the NASUWT have rejected the offer and will continue to campaign for a pay increase which genuinely reflects the hard work, dedication and skill that our profession deserves," Ms O'Prey said.
On examination results, she said the fixation on qualifications was producing a sterile form of education "which no longer meets the needs of our children". On inspections, Ms O'Prey said the existing system was too narrow. On a new scheme to replace older staff with newly qualified teachers, she said the criteria should be extended "so that all teachers who have not secured permanent employment since qualifying are eligible to apply".
"The NASUWT has been, still is and will continue to be at the forefront of protecting the conditions of service of all teachers," Ms O'Prey concluded.
"However, it is only down to the diligence and commitment of us, the members in standing up for standards and following the action short of strike action day after day in schools across the country that we have been able hold the front line, resist the constant attempts to destroy and downgrade the profession and reclaim our classrooms.
"Standing up for standards has never been easy but we will not tire. We will fight for ourselves, we will fight for our pupils and we will fight for our schools. Colleagues, stand up with me. Let the fight start here."
