Millions of children face online learning today (April 27) as teachers across England go on strike for the fourth time, just weeks before GCSE and A-Level exams begin - and we want to know what YOU think.
This comes as members of the National Education Union (NEU) chose to reject the Government’s “insulting” offer of a 4.3 percent wage rise for most teachers and a £1,000 one-off payment to staff in September. Some 191,319 members out of the 195,564 who took part in the consultative ballot dismissed the “unacceptable” wage deal as furious staff tackle squeezed pay and spiralling workloads.
More than half of England’s schools were closed or partially shut during last month’s walkout, while another strike day is planned for May 2. NEU Joint General Secretary Kevin Courtney told the Mirror: "The Education Secretary’s abdication of her responsibility to negotiate is failing teachers and children."
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan is refusing to meet with NEU leaders to discuss a new pay offer despite the threat of three more strike dates this term.
The Government has said there were no plans to make an improved pay deal, while Keegan warned that teachers could end up with less money. She has labelled the strikes “deeply disappointing” and said children were still struggling to recover from the impact of the Covid pandemic on their education.
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A Department for Education spokesperson said: “Any strike action is hugely damaging. We have made a fair and reasonable pay offer to teachers recognising their hard work and commitment.”
Industrial action will also take its toll on parents, who will need to arrange childcare for the seven days of strikes. NEU Joint General Secretary Dr Mary Bousted has urged Keegan to "make a better offer" as the dispute is not going away, she said: "There is time for you to make a new offer which can resolve this dispute.
"We really want you to do this Gillian, we want you to make a new offer that is fully funded, which matches other rises, which begins to deal with the crisis in our schools, an offer that our members would be prepared to accept.”
Do you support the teachers' plans to strike for better pay, or are you concerned about the impact it could have on children’s education? Have your say by .
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