Shirking the hard education conversations

THE teachers’ strike on Wednesday comes at a difficult time for many families. Most are already feeling the pinch of a rising cost of living and will now have to make extra arrangements for childcare just weeks away from the summer holidays.

Teaching unions say not enough has been done to avert a strike at a local level and now, with just days to go, Education Secretary ShirleyAnne Somerville has washed her hands of it.

A row over management structures in schools may not, on the face of it, seem like the kind of issue that should elicit much chatter at the school gates.

But teachers say the policy will result in long-term damage to education in Dundee.

They warn that just weeks after the SNP government quietly dropped their deadline for improving attainment, this move could set children back even further.

That would be an unforgivable burden to place on a cohort of young people whose school career has already been upended by the Covid pandemic.

Around 110 principal teacher posts are expected to go, and unions say that means a loss of vital experience and expertise.

Dundee City Council’s children and families convener, Stewart Hunter, argues the change is designed to improve the quality of learning and teaching.

He claims it will help attainment – although critics say he has failed to show his workings on that one.

Whoever is right, parents will hope the dispute is resolved as quickly as possible and with the best outcome for their children.

Ms Somerville says it would not be appropriate for her to help the process along but many will struggle to understand that position.

Political leaders at both a local and national level have now been accused of shirking the hard conversations to get this issue resolved.

That is unacceptable when it means children missing out on lessons and families forced to bear the brunt.

The education secretary may feel her attendance is not required, but Dundee’s teachers would very much like a word after class.