Teaching unions will be prohibited from shutting schools during strikes as part of a government crackdown aimed at minimizing disruption for students. Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has announced the introduction of a minimum service level requirement for schools and colleges. In a letter addressed to the unions, Keegan has requested that they voluntarily ensure sufficient staff are present in classrooms during walkouts. Failure to comply could result in legal enforcement. The objective is to ensure that schools are able to remain open to some extent, even during strike action.
Disruption to Learning
Last academic year, strikes in schools resulted in a staggering 25 million lost school days for pupils. Students and parents were greatly affected by the repeated strike action. Keegan emphasizes the need to avoid a recurrence of such disruption, particularly as schools and teachers are working tirelessly to help children recover from the impact of the pandemic.
Preventing Future Strikes
Following months of strike action, the government reached a pay agreement with the four largest teaching unions last summer. Today's announcement of minimum service levels is seen as an attempt to prevent further strikes in the upcoming academic year. Similar measures have already been implemented for the NHS and railway workers, responding to widespread unrest within those sectors. The Minimum Service Level Act provides the necessary legal backing for these measures.
Putting Education First
Keegan is urging the teaching unions to engage in a dialogue with the government and prioritize the education of children and young people above any disputes or disagreements. By doing so, the hope is to ensure that students' learning is not unduly disrupted by future strikes.
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