Day of action: 21 June 2010
Education is under attack.
- Over £1bn has been cut from higher education budgets over the next three years.
- Thousands of jobs already gone.
- Thousands more at risk.
- For the first time in decades our education system is shrinking and the barriers to access are rising.
- Current and future generations are at risk of being locked out of our education system.
Staff and students have united in an unprecedented sector-wide coalition to oppose the cuts.
ATL, GMB, EIS, NUS, UCU, UNITE and UNISON have joined forces to defend education.
they may be saving money now, but they’re shooting themselves in the foot regarding the future.
Hello Sharon,
Can I ask a question please, has ATL Balloted for the action, if so I would like to take part. I work with student’s with disabilities and our whole section and inclusive learning section has been cut for September, 21 staff and student’s who are in need of education, the vunerable in society will have no provision for education from September.
what sharon said. Education is an area that we really can’t afford to cut.
The government are messing with the future of the country and it’s future work force. short term thinking for long term effect!!!
Sally Hunt has it right:
“we will not tolerate cuts that may see thousands of dedicated professionals facing redundancy to cut a deficit they had no part in making.”
Clearly the government is cutting public sector jobs because these are the ones they have control over, while the culpable bankers are back to ‘business as usual’. It’s an utter disgrace.
@Deirdre: can you ask your Union branch how they are supporting this day of action? ATl is part of the joint campaign.
Yes we know what is before us…cuts, cuts, cuts. We and the students did not cause the banking crisis!
It is typical that Education will see alot of cuts. Why do I say this?
Simple we are not seen or understood as a PUBLIC SERVICE. The NHS will be defended by everyone (and so it should be!) but who trains the doctors? Who trains the nurses? Surgeons? HE and FE! If you restrict access to training for adults you restrict access for everyone. You make people believe they have NO worth because they come from the wrong background. As news of bursaries are also being cut how can the young from poorer backgrounds get a place at University.
It was Bankers who caused this mess not US! They need to pay the money back with interest charged at compound rates with extra charges for all the letters they will recieve from their new owners!!
It seems that learners with learning needs and disabilities are having the worst cutbacks this time. But Deirdre, your case is extreme! Your employers go against OFSTED’s overarching principles of safeguarding & Equality and Diversity. As a Deaf teacher I am fully shocked, knowing that lack of opportunities means more mental health challenges for many such learners with nothing to achieve all year around. Is there a way we could work together, those of us from inclusive learning education in Post-16 Education, to highlight this inequality?
So 18 out 0f 23 full time cabinet ministers are millionaires.
All I wanna say is that
They don’t really care about us
All I wanna say is that
They don’t really care about us
In solidarity from an NUT regional officer
Effective education is required to help the country get out of the recession, through offering courses to re-train people. Therefore, it is the top finacial personnel who need to be cut, as it was their greed that got us into the financial mess in the first place. Also the expenses’ scandal involving of MP’s, just makes you wonder where public sector money is being siphoned off.
We echo Jane Warren’s comments: Clearly the government is cutting public sector jobs because these are the ones they have control over and make the easiest targets.
The banking sector needs greater regulation and all bonuses at Lloyds/HBOS should be stopped until the debt is repaid.
Tony Blair gave himself a 70% pay increase when he came into office, along with several of his ministers, perhaps the government should start with cuts within the cabinet before they damage the education sector which is vital to the long term success of the nation ….
What a load of idiots the government is. We need cuts but reducing education funding means less educated people in the future, meaning less people earning enough money to pay taxes.
Our campus is like a graveyard at this time of year. Poor timing. But I echo all of the points above.
As a special needs teacher Post Compulsory, I have already been affected by having been made unemployed last year. I have survived on supply work through agencies this year…….what of the future.
All the Students I taught over the years in the college have had a learning difficulty of some sort accompanied with behavioural and emotional / social difficulty. Most are now working or have been able to enhance their lives due to the teachers in the department. I still remember the days when people were locked away in ‘homes’ due to their ‘differences’ and I am worried that this terrible past will catch up with us again. – We can not let this poor / rich divide happen again !!!
This is short sighted and confused thinking. Adult education is about upskilling the workforce, and bringing them back into employment.
Why destroy (Education)the very thing we need to develop ourselves enough to get out of the recession. Why are principals getting massive pay increases and cutting back support staff and lecturing staff.
Are the lunatics running the asylum ?
We should all march on Parliament and get on the news. Unfortunately thats the only way we can achieve full awareness of the public for the plight of students and lecturers who will one day prop up this country’s economy and effectively become the government of tomorrow. Damn the conservatives and their backward, old fashioned views towards education and the funding it needs!!
A really well supported Day of Action at Strode College in Somerset. UCU members stood alongside other staff and students to protest against government cuts to the FE sector with 400+ signing the petition. A positive and animated day of solidarity and raising awareness in difficult times.