Commenting on the Chancellor's statement to the
Commons, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National
Education Union, said:
"The Chancellor has failed to acknowledge that investment in our
schools and colleges is a necessity, not a choice. Since 2010
schools have had their spending power cut by £4.5bn. They are at
breaking point.
"The impact on children and young people's education is shocking.
The list is endless, from the SEND funding crisis to the
dilapidated state of classrooms, cuts to staffing and the courses
on offer. Heads, teachers, support staff and parents are sick and
tired of having to accommodate successive governments' refusal to
fund our education system properly.
"Staff are trying their best to hold things together, but they
are swimming against the tide.
"Money can be found. The government must halt plans to claw back
the £3.3bn from reduced employer contributions to the Teachers'
Pension Scheme and keep the money in school budgets.
"The value of teacher pay has already been cut by around a fifth
since 2010, while support staff pay has fallen by around 26
percent in real terms over the same period with many facing
in-work poverty due to low wages and term-time only
contracts.
"Teacher pay cuts drive teacher shortages and therefore damage
our education service. Investing in the skills of our
children and young people is vital to our economy, so the
government must provide the investment needed to properly value,
recruit and retain the teachers we need.
"To put their money where their mouth is, the government has now
to deliver the additional investment needed for schools. That is
the only way to ensure every child has the education they
deserve.
"We know that misogyny, sexual harassment and sexual violence
have a devastating impact on the lives of too many girls,
affecting every aspect of their lives including their education.
The additional money to address the issue not just in
schools but in wider society is welcome."
