Commenting on an analysis by the NFER
which calls for faster increases to teachers' pay to address
teacher recruitment and retention, Dr Patrick Roach,
General Secretary of NASUWT – The Teachers' Union said:
“The teaching profession is in the midst of a crisis of
recruitment, retention and morale, with 40,000 teachers leaving
in the last year alone.
“Teachers' pay has fallen in real terms by as much as 30% over
the last decade as a direct result of the policies of the current
Government.
“Today's report provides yet more evidence, if it were needed,
that the Government has categorically failed to deliver the
measures needed to recruit and retain the teachers the system
needs.
“Only by committing to a new deal for teachers will we begin to
see the necessary action being taken to boost teachers' pay and
deliver the world-class working conditions that will bring to an
end the recruitment and retention crisis that continues to
undermine pupils' education.
“Regrettably, the current Government seems not only unwilling,
but incapable of delivering what is needed for our children and
young people.
“It is high time the Prime Minister stops holding the country's
teachers and pupils to ransom.
“If Ministers want to win the support of teachers, they need to
demonstrate that they are willing to act to tackle the root cause
of the recruitment and retention crisis before it gets even
worse.”
