NASUWT: Plans will increase barriers to quality training
Representatives at the Annual Conference of the NASUWT, the fastest growing teachers’ union in Scotland, will hear today that the intention to implement the proposals of Teaching Scotland’s Future, a review of teacher education being coordinated by the Scottish Government, will exacerbate and increase the barriers facing teachers in ensuring they can gain access to appropriate qualifications, training and support to develop their classroom skills.
The Conference will be asked to support the creation of a national framework of entitlement, supported by additional funding, which will ensure equality of access for all teachers to high-quality development and training.
Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, said:
“Ensuring that all teachers can have equal access to an effective system of training and professional development is critical in enabling schools to continue to raise standards.
“However, these proposals for teacher education will drive up teacher workload and could deter new entrants from joining the profession.
“If the Scottish Government is serious about supporting high-quality teaching, it will introduce a national framework of ongoing support and development for all teachers which is appropriately funded and which operates in the context of a pay structure which recognises and rewards teachers as highly-skilled professionals.”
Jane Peckham, NASUWT Scotland Organiser, said:
“Teachers in Scotland are being asked to deliver massive curriculum and qualification reform. They are at the heart of Scotland’s agenda for future growth and development.
“This is the time to invest in the profession. The Scottish Government must take note and rethink its plans.”
ENDS
NASUWT Press Office contacts:
Ben Padley 07785 463 119
Lena Davies 07867 392 746
Amanda Williamson 07741 246 202
Notes to editors
The NASUWT’s Annual Conference is being held at the Bournemouth International Centre (BIC) from 29 March to 1 April.
The full text of the motion is below:
2(c) REVIEW OF TEACHER EDUCATION
Executive to move,
Executive to second:
Conference is deeply concerned about the National Partnership Group’s proposals for implementing the recommendations of the report Teaching Scotland’s Future, a review of teacher education in Scotland.
Conference believes that the proposals:
(i) undermine the status and standing of the qualifications system in Scotland by advocating the introduction of literacy and numeracy tests for students applying for and undertaking initial teacher education courses;
(ii) advocate the provision of additional teacher support for student teachers, without any regard for the increased workload burdens this will create and
(iii) place an expectation on all teachers to achieve Masters qualifications, with no provision in the pay structure for recognition of and reward for such an additional professional qualification.
Conference calls upon the National Executive to campaign:
(a) against the introduction of literacy and numeracy tests for new entrants to the profession;
(b) for the postcode lottery of access to continuing professional development to be replaced by a national framework of entitlement, supported by additional funding, and which provides equality of access for all teachers to high-quality development and training and
(c) for a pay structure that recognises and rewards additional qualifications.
(Executive)
Ben Padley,
Press and Media Officer,
Campaigns and Communications,
NASUWT
Hillscourt Education Centre
Rednal
Birmingham
B45 8RS
0121 457 6269
07785 463 119
www.twitter.com/nasuwt
www.twitter.com/Chris_K_NASUWT
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