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NEWS


Belfast college’s ‘duplicitous’ redundancy plans attacked

The NASUWT is fighting for members at Belfast Metropolitan College after management revealed “duplicitous, dishonest and deliberately misleading” plans to make up to 200 posts redundant.

Originally, managers stated they would have to make ‘over 100’ job losses but new information provided by college management to unions shows proposals to reduce the workforce by around 20%, closer to 200 posts and more than twice that originally identified in initial talks.

The NASUWT has been working with other teaching unions through the Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance (Nipsa) to resist the job cuts and has been meeting with members to decide the next steps in the campaign.

The NASUWT, believes these proposals will negatively impact on students and will reduce services to the people of Belfast and beyond.

All political parties and local representatives should raise concerns over these plans and call on the Department of Education and Learning Assembly Committee to examine the rationale for making such draconian cuts.

College management claims the redundancies are necessary because it has been running at a deficit for four years. The College has six campuses across Belfast with an additional campus due to open next year and a new building the year after. Finance has already been secured for both projects, but the NASUWT would question how the expansion will be feasible if the deep staffing cuts go ahead.


DIPLOMA REPORT WELCOMED

Effective collaboration must be at the heart of vocational learning, the NASUWT has asserted, following the publication of an evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of the Diploma programme.

Partnership between schools, colleges and employers and the provision of fully resourced and trained staff are key to providing high quality Diplomas, the report by Ofsted found.

Students who were well supported and able to clearly apply their learning to the world of work made the most progress, inspectors reported.

The findings echo the NASUWT’s argument that encouraging greater collaboration, not competition, between learning providers is critical to raising educational standards in both academic and vocational education, Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, stated.

“The Coalition Government should take note that to be effective, vocational qualifications, like many other aspects of education, need partnership working between schools and colleges rather than being pitched to compete against each other in a pseudo-marketplace.

“Ofsted has highlighted the need for schools, colleges and employers to work together. This is where the qualification has been most successful.”

The Report, entitled Diplomas: the Second Year, highlighted a lack of action by schools and colleges to tackle gender-stereotypical recruitment to Diploma courses. Participation by young people with disabilities and learning difficulties was also low and action has been recommended to tackle this.

The NASUWT welcomed the positive findings in the Report and urged those in Government and businesses who considered vocational learning and Diplomas as ‘second class’ qualifications to read the report and remove their blinkers.

There are many positive indications in the Report that the new Diploma programme has made a real difference to the lives of young people. It is clear that they are valued by employers.

Chris Keates said: “However, the serial detractors of state education who seek to denigrate schools and wish to downgrade the status of vocational education will not let this fact get in the way of their constant carping and criticism.

“Those genuinely interested in education will look beyond the headlines and read the report in full, before passing judgement.”

Diplomas: the Second Year can be downloaded at www.ofstedgov.co.uk.


£145,000 for teacher’s voice

The effect of excessive classroom noise and voice strain on teachers has been highlighted by a recent compensation case.

Adult education teacher, Joyce Walters was awarded £145,000 in an out of court settlement for occupational voice loss after managers repeatedly dismissed her concerns as ‘an occupational hazard for all teachers’.

Ms Joyce was diagnosed with nodules on her vocal chords after having to continually strain her voice to be heard during her work teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL).

The problems began after she was assigned a classroom overlooking a noisy school playground and were exacerbated by the number of ESOL beginners in her class.

Despite an investigation by managers at Hillingdon Council which established a teacher would have to shout to be heard in the classroom, Ms Joyce’s complaints were twice dismissed by her employers.

The NASUWT has highlighted the problem of voice strain for teachers and runs voice care workshops at conferences and at many of its seminars and events for members.

For further advice and guidance go to: www.nasuwt.org.uk/HealthAndSafety.


NASUWT national election results

Honorary Treasurer

At the close of nominations on 1 November 2010, BRIAN COOKSON, as the only nomination received for the vacancy, was deemed to have been elected unopposed.

District 23

At the close of nominations on 12 November 2010, CHRIS HOLLAND, as the only nomination received for the vacancy, was deemed to have been elected unopposed.