Commenting on the education and child poverty aspects of the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government, announced today by the First Minister, Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, the fastest growing teachers’ union in Scotland, said:
“Although much of the First Minister’s statement was not new, the NASUWT welcomes her reaffirmation that education is the ‘defining mission’ of her Government. The focus in her statement on tackling child poverty, which is one of the biggest inhibitors to educational progress and attainment for children and young people, is also very welcome
“The announcement of a Child Poverty Bill and the creation of statutory targets to reduce child poverty are laudable aims which now have to be turned into reality.
“The warm words about liberating teachers from unnecessary workload and freeing teachers to teach need to be translated urgently into actions which will make a real difference to teachers’ working lives.
“The NASUWT has already set out a blueprint of measures ministers could take immediately to alleviate workload burdens. Teachers’ patience is running out.
“The NASUWT continues to have serious concerns about the move to more autonomy for schools without a clear definition of the framework in which they will be required to work.
“The NASUWT looks forward to full involvement in the Programme for Government.”
Jane Peckham, NASUWT National Official Scotland, said:
“The First Minister’s pledge to introduce a new fair and transparent national funding formula for schools is welcome, but experience shows it is easy to say and difficult to do.
“A funding system for schools, capable of responding to local needs and circumstances and which is democratically driven, is the best way to ensure that the needs of children and young people across very different contexts and circumstances are met.
“What will be critical will be that any uncertainty and turbulence for schools over their funding is minimised and that schools have the ability to plan and organise effectively.”
