Unions blast Michael Gove's education reforms
(Originally published by Equal Times)
Translations: Español | Francais
Head teachers, parents and union leaders blasted education
secretary Michael Gove’s education reforms on Saturday at rallies held in
Liverpool and Manchester by the National Union of Teachers (NUT), ahead of strikes
this summer.
“Today is our chance to tell Michael Gove that we’ve had enough of the myths, the misinformation, the distortions and the downright lies that are peddled every day by him and his coalition ministers about our education service.”
Translations: Español | Francais
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The events attracted an audience in excess of 1000 members, and
heard from several speakers including Chris Keates, General Secretary of the National
Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT). Speaking in Manchester Keates accused Gove of
spreading “misinformation” about education professionals in order to further
his political agenda.
“Today is our chance to tell Michael Gove that we’ve had enough of the myths, the misinformation, the distortions and the downright lies that are peddled every day by him and his coalition ministers about our education service.”
The Conservative minister has been fiercely criticised in
recent months over his ‘traditional values’ reforms to the national curriculum,
with a heavy focus on rote learning and the memorisation of facts from the age
of 5. A further point of controversy has been the introduction of academies -
state funded schools which are independently run and can appoint teachers
without a formal qualification, a move some regard as an attack on the teaching
profession.
“What would the reaction be if people were told that doctors
no longer needed a qualification?”, asked Keates, before receiving a rapturous
standing ovation.
The rally also heard the testimony of mother of three and
Labour party activist, Angela Rayner, who told the audience she feared Gove’s focus
on rigorous academic assessment would cause vulnerable children like her five-year-old
partially blind son, Charlie, to be left behind.
“Throughout all his life Charlie has had special support but
I’m worried all that is going to go now. He’s not going to be the type of child
who puts you up at the top of the league table but he’s a true inspiration to
all of us because despite all the odds he continues to fight every day.”
Tension between Gove and his critics has been building for
months. In March 100 academics and
education experts signed an open letter in the Independent warning that the new
curriculum “could severely erode educational standards.”
The sentiment was echoed this month by Britain’s largest teachers’ union, the
NUT, who gave the education secretary a vote of no confidence for the first
time in their 143 year history. However, Gove has refused to backtrack, further
incensing his detractors by dismissing them as “enemies of promise” and
“Marxists”.
In response the NUT and NASAWT - which boast a combined
membership of over 400,000 - have announced rolling strikes starting in the
North-West in June. However, Keates called for Michael Gove to meet with unions
to try and resolve the dispute and avoid more strikes. “We have no wish to be
moving to escalation to strike action. No teacher wants to be put in that
position,” she told the rally.
A spokesperson for the department of education said the
speakers at the rally did not represent a majority of parents who back the
reforms:
“For too long other countries have been outpacing us. Our
reforms are giving teachers more freedom, increasing choice for parents so
every child can go to a good local school, and ensuring we have an education
system that matches the world's best.
“We have met frequently with the NUT and NASUWT to discuss
their concerns and will continue to do so.”
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