Latest editorial
TEACHERS at sixth-form colleges deserve our full-throated support today as they fight for their right to take strike action on March 15.
Education Secretary Nicky Morgan claims the NUT’s walkout — backed by 86 per cent of voting members — is unlawful because it is rooted in a “political” dispute, “not a trade dispute about the terms and conditions of its members.” But it’s hard to argue with the National Union of Teachers’ contention that massive funding cuts to education for 16-19-year-olds have an effect on terms and conditions.
Sixth-form colleges have been hit harder than schools by Tory cuts, with real-terms funding in 2014-2015 14 per cent less than it had been in 2010-11.
With 170,000 children living in poverty in north-east England and teachers leaving in droves over 20 per cent real-terms pay cuts since 2010, all while private companies siphon off billions, it is time to unite and fight for education, writes MATT WRACK
Almost half of universities face deficits, merger mania is taking hold, and massive fee hikes that will lock out working-class students are on the horizon, write RUBEN BRETT, PAUL WHITEHOUSE and DAN GRACE