Commenting on an email sent by the Education Secretary last night
which detailed her views on school funding and the current pay
offer, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the
National Education Union, said:
" is profoundly out of touch
with teachers, support staff and school leaders, and the
pressures they are under. We know that members find this pay
offer insulting, and it is surprising that such widespread
condemnation has not registered with her.
“Keegan’s email displays a misunderstanding of inflation, that if
it comes down then it is irrelevant and inconsequential that it
was ever high in the first place. Our members have lived through
those price rises, as have the rest of the general public. It has
left a gap in school finances as well as those of individual
workers.
“Her message also displays a total disregard for the situation
heads are in. It is not good enough to tell them there is enough
money in the system if it isn’t distributed to the point of need.
Using universal totals to speak to individual school leaders
about individual affordability, is economic nonsense.
“Far from telling schools they can afford it the Education
Secretary should be apologising to heads for more than a decade
of mismanagement by Government. She and her colleagues have made
the job of running a school far harder. That is why we urge
members to vote reject in this week's online ballot."
