Northern Ireland

NASUWT demands new assembly to do more for teachers

Justin McCamphill, NASUWT National Official Northern Ireland
Justin McCamphill, NASUWT National Official Northern Ireland Justin McCamphill, NASUWT National Official Northern Ireland

THE next Stormont administration must act urgently to address the growing crisis in the teaching profession, a leading union has warned.

Representatives at the NASUWT annual conference issued the warning as voters prepare to go to the polls in May for the Stormont assembly elections.

The union's conference in Birmingham heard that the life chances of generations of children and young people would be seriously damaged if attacks on teachers' pay and working conditions continued.

Members also argued that the issues of teacher wastage and area planning must be addressed.

A Northern Ireland motion on investment in education and ending pay restraint was among those debated.

The conference congratulated teachers and principals in the north's schools for continuing to secure high standards of education for all "whilst facing year-on-year severe cuts to funding, widespread job loss and attacks on pay and conditions of service".

The conference commended the NASUWT members for their "strong stand to defend the teaching profession and the education service through industrial action and deplores the failure of politicians to address their concerns".

The union has demanded that the next Executive and assembly must "restore good industrial relations by reforming urgently the dysfunctional bargaining machinery and engaging in genuine negotiations with the NASUWT to resolve its long standing trade dispute".

In addition, it agreed to encourage politicians to introduce strategies to support teachers to continue to raise educational standards, end pay restraint and provide a contractual entitlement and access to high quality continuing professional development.

Members also said they wanted to see equal educational entitlement by investing in a "coherent, transparent strategy of area planning, based on cross-sectoral co-operation and dialogue, to secure a genuine shared education system in the best interests of all children and young people in the area".

NASUWT general secretary Chris Keates said teachers in Northern Ireland were reeling from school reorganisation, curriculum change, deep cuts to pay, deterioration in their conditions of service and widespread job loss.

"Uncertainty hangs almost permanently over the heads of teachers and principals as the education system lurches from one crisis to another. Representatives have set out in the motion their expectations," she said.

"Teachers’ dedication and commitment has for too long been taken for granted. Experienced teachers are being lost to the profession and talented graduates, trained at public expense, are unable to find a permanent job in their chosen career.

"The next administration in Stormont faces a turbulent time if these concerns remain un-addressed."

Justin McCamphill, NASUWT National Official Northern Ireland, said teachers were frustrated and angry at the failure of politicians to address their real and deep concerns.

"Investment in the teaching workforce is an investment in the future of Northern Ireland and its children and young people. Politicians need to come to terms with this," he said.