The Government’s failure to address inequalities is exacerbating
the recruitment and retention crisis within the school workforce,
the NASUWT - The Teachers’ Union has
warned.
Black and ethnic minority teachers, across the UK, are being
driven out of the profession by significant pay-erosion, stifled
career progression and discrimination at work. Nearly 3 in 4
Black and ethnic minority teachers are seriously considering
leaving their job, according to NASUWT research.
The Union’s stark warning coincides with new research by the NFER
revealing that the most significant ethnic disparities in teacher
career progression occur during early career stages.
In a recent letter to the Secretary of State for
Education, Dr Patrick Roach, NASUWT General
Secretary and Chair of the TUC’s Anti-Racism Taskforce
said:
“Your own recent analysis confirms the impact of widening pay
disparities by racial background, and other protected
characteristics. It is now essential that these disparities are
addressed.
“We believe that your Department has the means and levers to
ensure the best practice in this regard and to assure that every
school and college employer publishes data on their ethnicity pay
figures, the reasons why any disparities exist and what will be
done to address them.
“The NASUWT shares your commitment to ensuring that every child
should have the best start in life and the opportunity to realise
their potential. Creating a system that works for all children
and that promotes fairness and equity is key to securing the best
outcomes for the nation’s children and young people”
Commenting on these findings Dr Patrick Roach
said:
“The evidence is clear: at every stage of their career, Black and
ethnic minority teachers are under-represented and undervalued.
“The Government’s failure to confront their own systemic
inequalities is stoking a recruitment and retention crisis within
our school workforce that cannot be ignored.
“Superficial gestures from the Department for Education won’t
prevent Black and Asian teachers from leaving the profession. Nor
will they ease the cost of living for the 95% of Asian teachers
and 92% of Black Teachers who have told us they are somewhat or
very worried about their financial situation.
“The only solution to move the profession forward in a fair and
positive direction is the establishment of a Better Deal for
Black Teachers, that begins with radical reform of the pay
framework to remove its discriminatory impacts.”
ENDS
Notes to editor:
- NASUWT findings from internal survey data of NASUWT members.
- NFER Report can be accessed here
