Teachers step up drive to cut workload

Thursday 6 February 2014 scOtLAND’s largest teaching union has repeated calls for workloads to be cut amid claims the implementation of the curriculum has been an “absolute disgrace”.

the educational institute of scotland (eis) said teachers remained caught up in excessive bureaucracy, despite assurances last year from education secretary Mike russell.

speaking at a rally in edinburgh yesterday, the union’s general secretary, Larry Flanagan, said children’s education was being put at risk by teachers “exhausted by workload” and “stressed to the eyeballs”.

there are increasing concerns about the new National qualifications, part of curriculum for excellence (cfe), which pupils will sit in the spring.

in a letter published in the scotsman earlier this week, s4 pupil Flora scarabello said she was “utterly exasperated” by the prelims for the new qualifications, which she claimed are “less rigorous” than their predecessors, the standard Grades.

Mr Flanagan said: “the conditions in which we work are the conditions in which our children learn.

“teachers who are exhausted by workload or stressed to the eyeballs by the excessive demands being made of them will not be as effective as they would wish.

“As teachers, as professionals, we need to have control of our working lives so that we can control workload, so that we can focus on what is important – the learning experience for our pupils.”

eis president Phil Jackson added: “the Government must take responsibility, they didn’t listen to the voice of the professionals who argued for a delay in the new exams.

“the scottish Qualifications Authority must get their act together and fast.

“it is time for local authorities to do what is best for pupils, their parents and their teachers.

“the way cfe has been handled is an absolute disgrace.”