RECOVERY BEGINS WITH EDUCATION, SAYS ULSTER TEACHERS’ UNIONBSENCES

Recovery begins with education, that was the message today from a leading Northern Ireland educationalist.

Avril Hall Callaghan, General Secretary of the UTU (Northern Ireland’s only locally-based teaching union) was speaking as the profession gears up to mark World Teachers’ Day on October 5.

“This international event is a chance to celebrate all that is good about education in Northern Ireland, but it is also a chance to highlight the issues which threaten that,” she said.

“World Teachers’ Day commemorates the anniversary of the signing in 1966 UNESCO recommendation concerning the status of teachers and their essential role in providing quality education at all levels and particularly in building a better future for children.

“It is especially pertinent now at a time of global economic downturn that education remains the lynchpin for recovery and future development in our society.”

Ms Hall Callaghan said World Teachers’ Day provided a springboard from which the profession could highlight issues for not only local politicians, but also those on the world stage of the G20 summit in Soeul next month where education has been made one of the key themes.

“Today is a chance to highlight four main issues: (a) Quality education should be available to all – regardless of sex, ethnic origin, religion or family income,” she continued.

(b) “Record levels of youth unemployment present great risks for all countries, not least Northern Ireland in its post-conflict situation. Vocational education and training must be developed and implemented.

(c) “Quality public services including education and health are critical for sustainable recovery. As a vital investment in the future, education must be protected from and that is why the teacher unions are fully supporting The Irish Congress of Trade Unions’ campaign against government cuts and will be represented at the rally on 23rd October.

(d) “Recovery begins with teachers who on a daily basis face triumphs and challenges in classrooms across the world. At a time of global crisis we need to consolidate all that we have in common and learn from eachother.

“Towards that end World Teachers’ Day is calling on the G20 to support the development of UNESCO’s International Taskforce on Teachers into a global partnership for teacher education and professional development.

“Teachers and parents in Northern Ireland mightn’t think this could have any impact on them but the world is an increasingly smaller place so it makes perfect sense that we should partner with our colleagues elsewhere in the world and share best practice.”