IMMEDIATE RELEASE 5December 2003
Commenting on theleaked DFES paper Workforce Reform Blue Skies suggesting that schools needhave only one qualified teacher, Doug McAvoy, General Secretary of the NationalUnion of Teachers, said:
Behind the fatuousdenials that they knew nothing about civil servants proposals to slash teachernumbers, ministers clearly want to achieve such an objective.
This is a Governmentwhich is engaged in deceiving parents and the teaching profession. Its manifesto promised increases in teachernumbers while it works hard to reduce them.
No Governmentcommitted to education can remain credible while endorsing such an assault onstandards.
I find it very sadthat the other teacher organisations appear to have sat on such a paper for solong. They had a duty to expose suchdestructive thinking. Instead theyhave tacitly condoned it.
The NUTs stand innot signing the school workforce agreement is completely vindicated.
I call on all theteacher organisations now to reject the agreement and stand up for childrenseducation and the protection of the teaching profession.
E N D S pr.96.03