NASUWT issues a challenge to political parties
The NASUWT, the largest teachers’ union, has issued a challenge to political parties through a ground-breaking new report ‘Maintaining World Class Schools’.
The Report, which was presented today at the Union’s Annual Conference in Bournemouth explodes the myth that public education is failing and sets out a series of issues to inform a debate with politicians in the run up to the 2015 General Election.
Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, said:
“As politicians lay out their manifestos for 2015, it is about time they started to engage with the teaching profession.
“The NASUWT, through this major report, is challenging politicians to commit to the future of public education and to the right of every child and young person to quality education.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
The report ‘Maintaining World Class Schools’ was presented at the NASUWT’s Annual Conference, which is being held at the Bournemouth International Centre (BIC) from 29 March to 1 April.
The report does not seek to provide a ‘blueprint’ for education reformers; that is a matter for government. But, as this report makes clear, how government goes about the job developing the agenda for school reform is critically important because now, more than ever, there is a need for a genuine and open debate on the future of publicly funded education in the UK.
Headline proposals are:
the UK has a high quality system of publicly education which is among the best in the world and government should play a role in ensuring that;
government needs to build on what has been successful in UK public education;
securing high outcomes for all children and young people requires action to end poverty and disadvantage in society;
government should be clear about the wider purposes of public education;
our public education should exist to meet the country’s obligations and commitments to the universal rights of children and young people;
government, locally and nationally, must play a key role in securing public education;
we need to invest more, not less, in public education;
public education should deliver national entitlements for children and young people;
we need greater public engagement in public education which government can help to secure.
Copies of the report are attached.
Lena Davies
Press and Media Officer
NASUWT
0121 457 6250 / 07867 392 746
lena.davies@mail.nasuwt.org.uk
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