NUT comment on OECD Report
Welcoming the latest Education at a Glance report by the OECD, Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union, said:
“While in the context of the UK there has been some progress in the percentage of GDP allocated for education, there are some worrying findings in this report. The NUT supports its assertion that the social segregation within our schools should be a key concern of UK policy makers. Michael Gove needs to take heed of the warnings apparent from this report and start to evaluate his education policies on the basis of the extent to which they address or exacerbate educational inequalities.
“The OECD rightly notes that Sweden had been one of the most equitable societies in the past but had seen big increases in social inequality in recent years. It is of continuing concern to the NUT, therefore, that despite these clear warnings the Education Secretary insists on pursuing policies such as the free school model developed in Sweden, which have been shown to have had such a disastrous effect in terms of exacerbating inequalities in education.
“The OECD report also shows that whilst access to early childhood education has increased, funding for it is less than the OECD average and pupil teacher ratios are higher than the average. This is bound to compromise the quality of provision.
“The report shows that there has been a decrease in autonomy for schools in recent years, particularly in relation to the content of the curriculum. The NUT believes that professional autonomy must be restored to teachers in curriculum content, design and pedagogy.
“The international evidence shows that high performing school systems prioritise teacher quality. Yet instead of investing in the teaching profession through better access to continuous professional development, our own Government is moving in the opposite direction by allowing people without a teaching qualification to teach in academies and free schools in England. The Government needs to recognise that investing in teachers is a prerequisite of improving our education system. Indeed, as this report clearly states a serious investment in education is not only essential but pays immense social and economic dividends.”
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For further information contact Caroline Cowie on 0207 380 4706 or 07879480061
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