IMMEDIATE RELEASE 18February 2003
Commenting on Education Secretary CharlesClarkes announcement that no Education Minister will attend this years annualconference of the National Union of Teachers at Easter, Doug McAvoy, NUTGeneral Secretary, said:
The Government talks of partnership but iswilling to practise partnership only with those who meekly agree with it.
The decision of the Education Secretary toboycott this years NUT conference is immature.
The NUT has refused to sign up to anagreement which is flawed. It has done so because it disagrees with theGovernment and the signatories on five key issues, issues on which theGovernment has failed to respond.
I have no doubt that the NUT is acting inthe best interests of teachers, pupils and education. Parents cannot want thesolution to teacher shortages to be that their children should be taught byother than qualified teachers.
The NUT will put teachers and pupils firstwhether that means agreeing or disagreeing with the Government.
EN D PR.14/03