On World Teachers’ Day the NASUWT-The Teachers’
Union has called on UK Governments and
administrations to take the steps to ensure every child is taught
by a qualified teacher who has the pay, working conditions,
training and support they need to make the fullest possible
use of their professional talents, knowledge and expertise.
The Union is setting out the principles it believes must be in
place to ensure our education systems across the UK recognise and
develop teachers as professionals.
The Union believes this requires:
-
high-quality initial teacher training;
- all
teachers working in state-funded schools to be in possession of
qualified teacher status (QTS);
- senior
leaders in schools who are qualified and accredited as teachers;
- career-long
continuous professional development for all teachers and school
leaders;
- a move
towards teaching as a Masters-level profession; and
- a
commitment to ensuring that teachers are remunerated
appropriately.
Chris Keates, General Secretary of the
NASUWT said:
“Qualified teacher status represents the means by which parents
and the public can be assured that children are receiving a
guaranteed standard of teaching and learning. It is the
entitlement of all children and young people to be taught by a
qualified teacher.
“Respect for the professionalism of teachers is a hallmark of an
education system that is genuinely committed to raising standards
and extending educational opportunities for all learners.
“A national framework of professional requirements and standards,
underpinned by a framework of professional terms and conditions
of service, is critical to ensuring quality for all children and
young people.
“Yet when we look across the UK, we see in every administration,
year-on-year cuts to teachers’ pay, spiralling workloads and the
undermining at school and national level of teachers’
professionalism, skills and knowledge, exacerbated by the demands
of the high-stakes accountability system.
“This is leading to an exodus from the profession, a scandalous
waste of talent which is damaging children and young people’s
entitlement to a world class education.
“On World Teachers’ Day, which this year is dedicated to the
theme of empowering teachers, the NASUWT is calling on
governments and administrations to recognise that this world
class education starts with creating the conditions by which
teaching is a high status, attractive profession where teachers
have an entitlement to ongoing training and pedagogical
development and working conditions which support them to focus on
teaching and raising standards for every child.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
The Strengthening QTS position statement is attached.
World Teachers’ Day takes place annually on 5 October to
highlight the vital work that teachers across the globe carry
out every day to inspire, empower and support children and
young people to achieve their potential. This year’s theme
is ‘Teaching in Freedom, Empowering Teachers’.
