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NEWS • VIEWS • INFORMATION • ADVICE
FIGHTING FOR BME TEACHERS
The NASUWT is fighting a “continual battle” to challenge the discrimination faced by black and minority ethnic (BME) teachers in schools.
Chris Keates, NASUWT General Secretary [below], said the NASUWT was continuing to fight and work on the issues and problems faced by BME teachers.
Ms Keates was speaking as more than 300 members from across the UK gathered in Birmingham for the BME Teachers’ Consultation Conference.
The Conference was chaired by NASUWT Honorary Treasurer Brian Cookson.
Chris Keates told delegates the Conference gave BME members a direct input into the Union’s policy-making process.
She said: “I am really proud that so many of you make the effort to attend on the weekend when I know how challenging so many of your working lives actually are.
“These conferences give you a voice in the policy making of the NASUWT. We have continued to work on the issues that you have told us are important to you.
“We are fighting, as you know, a continual battle to challenge discrimination in the workplace.
“We have upgraded our casework analysis management system to track discrimination cases and we are continuing the training and awareness raising of our caseworkers.”
Ms Keates said there was “no better time” to be discussing the theme of the conference, entitled ‘Organising for the Future’, than when the Union had embarked on a national programme of action short of strike action to raise standards in the classroom.
Ms Keates outlined many of the problems facing the profession at the moment and said that by giving overwhelming backing to the Standing up for Standards campaign, NASUWT members had embarked on a ‘quiet revolution’ to reclaim their classroom.
Despite the problems faced by teachers, classroom teaching is still “one of the most important and one of the best and most rewarding jobs in the public services,” Ms Keates stressed. She added: “What we shouldn’t do is have talented and dedicated teachers leaving the profession, and the service to be broken up by a hostile Government.”
"We are fighting, as you know a continual battle to challenge discrimination in the workplace...“
…teaching is still one of the most important and one of the best and most rewarding jobs in the public services...
Future Leaders
The Conference heard from Future Leaders. This organisation’s aim is to address educational inequality by developing the next generation of headteachers to go into schools in disadvantaged areas.
(Photos of Corinne Jess, Marketing and Attraction Manager at Future Leaders, Heath Monk, Chief Executive of Future Leaders, Nicholas Taylor and Nick Obie)
Through an accelerated programme of seminars, placements and training, supported by a mentor, they aim to put teachers into headship after four years.
Attendees at the Conference raised questions with the presenters and highlighted the challenges BME teachers face in securing leadership posts.
Workshops at the Conference
• Your rights to a professional career
• Culturally driven abuse
• Narrowing the gap
• Taking control of your finances
• Leadership development
THE NEXT CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD ON 1 DECEMBER 2012. BOOK NOW
conferencesandevents@mail.nasuwt.org.uk
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