The next government should invest in the further and higher
education workforce, end the hostile environment for migrants and
scrap arbitrary metrics like the Teaching
Excellence Framework, the University and College Union (UCU)
said today (Tuesday) as it published its general
election manifesto.
The union has identified six key areas for reform which it
says would lead to a more sustainable post-16 education system.
These include increased funding, making
university admissions fairer and putting skills at
the heart of
the climate transition.
The manifesto also calls for action to hold institutions to
account over workloads, casualisation, pay inequality and
pensions - issues which will see staff at 60 UK universities
take eight days
of strike action from next week.
UCU general secretary, Jo Grady, said: ‘Post-16 education
is central to social justice and the success of our economy, but
to reach its full potential it must be well-resourced and fully
accessible. Our manifesto sets out key priorities for the next
government that will help to ensure a fair and sustainable
education system that can cater to the diverse needs of people
across the UK.
‘A key plank of the manifesto is investment in the
workforce. Staff are the cornerstone of a successful education
system and we must ensure that careers in higher, further, adult
and prison education remain attractive.
‘Ending the hostile environment for migrant workers,
reforming university admissions and scrapping arbitrary metrics
like the Teaching Excellence Framework should be key priorities
for the incoming government. We also need to see robust action to
hold institutions to account over issues relating to workloads,
casualisation, pay inequality and pensions which are forcing
members at 60 UK universities to take eight days of strike action
from next week.’
