Thousands of teachers marched to the Prime Minister’s Office in England
The teachers, who gathered on the banks of the River Thames in London, first protested outside the Ministry of Education and then across Downing Street with the march organized by the National Education Syndicate.
Thousands of teachers chanted “Salaries are not high, (Prime Minister) Rishi Sunak is lying”, “All he wants is a salary increase”, banners “We need a new salary increase, not a new king” and “Come on Gill (Education Minister Gillian Keegan) pay the bill,” he led.
The teachers, who also expressed their demands for the lack of teachers, the financing of schools and the improvement of educational conditions, passed in front of the British Parliament and marched in front of the Ministry of Education. Addressing Education Minister Keegan here, union representatives invited teachers to a 1-minute silent protest, turning their backs on the ministry.
Following the silent protest, thousands of teachers marched towards the action area at the Downing Street entrance, where the Prime Minister’s Office is located.
“WE WILL FORCE THE GOVERNMENT TO INVEST”
Addressing the teachers who participated in the strike from the stage set up here, the General Secretary of the National Education Union, Kevin Courtney, stated that the teachers who took to the streets to express their demands for retirement in France sent the flag of the union of FSU education in the country. to support teachers in England and Wales.
Noting that the government is working on a plan to pay minimum service fees for striking civil servants, Courtney said: “Many schools are unable to offer computer science and science education courses due to teacher shortages. At the school of one of our physics teachers, students can only cover half of the physics curriculum.” saying.
Expressing that she received questions about the disruption to education due to the strike, Courtney said: “Class disruptions happen every week and are experienced across the country. In physics, mathematics and primary education, the new teachers have not yet been replaced by the teachers who left during the Christmas holidays. he said.
Courtney said students were unable to participate in sports competitions due to problems with school funding, and said there is a shortage of educational equipment and tools in kindergartens.
Stating that the government does not listen to them, Courtney said: “We will force the government to invest in the children and teachers of this generation. I don’t know how long it will take, but we will.” He used the phrases.
Stating that the government is making it difficult for unions by being required to renew the strike decision every 6 months, Courtney said: “We don’t want to go on strike, but the government needs to know we can go on strike. So go with higher numbers to the strike ballot box that will arrive after May 15. Let’s go on strike with all the unions in September and the government will see that we can continue this campaign in the general elections”. saying.
Courtney added that the only thing to do to stop the strikes is to invest in students and teachers.
TEACHERS ALSO WANT TO INCREASE THE FUND AND THE NUMBER OF TEACHERS
Two-year-old teacher Holly Phipps, who took part in the strike, told Anadolu Agency (AA) that teachers want to make a difference, saying: “I love this job, but we can’t do it without money.” he said.
Noting that teachers left the country in search of better conditions, Phipps said: “I don’t want to leave the country, but if the government doesn’t change their policy on paying teachers, I will be forced to leave.” saying.
Saying she has been a teacher for 35 years, Karen Russell said she took part in the action to hold the government accountable for underfunding schools.
Stating that schools and teachers were having to cover payments due to lack of funds, Russell said: “Resources are very thin, morale is very low. Especially in London, 8 teachers left our school due to the high cost of living.” he gave the words of him.
Citing the difficulty of finding new replacements for teachers who left, Russell asserted that teachers support the education system, saying, “At the very least, we just want schools to be fully funded.” saying.
Special education teacher Kristy Simone also asserted in her statement that the problems facing teachers who will train the next generation are not just wages and lack of resources.
Stating that teacher retention rates in the system and teacher training have decreased, Simone stated that teachers have recently left schools to find work in other countries with better conditions.
Simone stressed that the proposal to cut education funding and give teachers a raise will not be accepted. (AA)