Teachers from across Scotland gather for the NASUWT conference
The NASUWT, the fastest growing teachers’ union in Scotland and the largest in the UK, will hold its Annual Conference on Thursday 15 May and Friday 16 May 2014.
Representatives from across Scotland will debate motions on a wide range of issues affecting the teaching profession and education, including assessment, reforms to qualifications and the curriculum, early years education, reforms to teachers’ pay and conditions and the impact of local authority budget cuts on educational provision and resourcing.
On Thursday, the Conference, held at the NASUWT Scotland National Centre in Edinburgh, will be addressed by NASUWT General Secretary Chris Keates.
Chris Keates, NASUWT General Secretary, said:
“Teachers from across Scotland are gathering at a time when the education service, much admired across the UK, and their conditions of service, once considered the gold standard, are under increasing and damaging pressure.
“The excessive workload of teachers, combined with increased stress, relentless pressure and low morale is a dangerous cocktail. It is no surprise that many of the motions to be debated at the NASUWT Conference reflect the deep concern of teachers about the changes which are being made.
“Teachers are committed to doing their best for the children and young people they teach, but to do this they need working conditions which enable them to focus on teaching and learning. They also need adequate resources and support in order to meet the demands of curriculum and qualification reform.
“Teachers at the Conference will be calling on ministers to listen to the serious concerns of the profession, if Scotland is to maintain its world-class schools.”
Jane Peckham, NASUWT Scotland Organiser, said:
“The Conference will provide the opportunity for teachers from across Scotland to share their concerns. They are frustrated by the fact that that their professionalism and children’s education is being undermined by the introduction of under-resourced initiatives and the failure to recognise the increasing bureaucratic and workload burdens they face.
“Coupled with the attacks on their pay and conditions it is unsurprising that teacher morale is at an all time low.”
