School Based Support Staff Face Savage Cuts
School Based Support Staff Face Savage Cuts
29/11/2011
As members across the Education Sector prepare for strike action on Wednesday 30 November, NIPSA warns of massive attacks on staffing levels in schools.
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SCHOOL BASED SUPPORT STAFF FACE SAVAGE CUTS
As members across the Education Sector prepare for strike action on Wednesday 30 November, NIPSA warns of massive attacks on staffing levels in schools.
Assistant Secretary Paddy Mackel said:-
“It is becoming increasingly clear by the day that cuts in the Education budget will result in significant job losses across the Education Sector. With the announcement yesterday by the Department of further reductions in school budgets from next year, school support staff and Classroom Assistants face significant redundancies. It has been estimated that this figure is likely to run into thousands with today’s announcement by George Osbourne there will be further bleak news for ordinary workers.”
The focus in the coming months will be on the impossible position which schools find themselves in, with budget reductions and “rationalisation” of the school estate with cuts totalling in excess of £300m over the next few years.
Paddy Mackel went on to say:-
“It is time that Ministers in this Executive had the courage to stand up for their constituents, in particular young people. Education is a right which should be defended by the Executive rather than the approach taken to date which has facilitated widespread attacks on education provision. It is impossible to deliver quality education to young people whilst at the same time cutting thousands of jobs, forcing schools to close, condemning children to travel greater distances to obtain a level of education which is likely to more closely resemble that of the early part of the last century with school estates crumbling, increasing classroom sizes, less teachers and less classroom assistants and support staff the next generation will place the blame where it belongs – this Assembly for willingly allowing themselves to oversee the implementation, without any meaningful challenge, UK Government cuts in public services.”
The message from our members today is that tomorrows strike should be seen as an opportunity for the Assembly and Executive to make a stand for their voters and others and join with the Trade Union movement and the wider community in saying Enough is enough, we deserve better and our children deserve an education service, which is fit for the 21st century.”
Statement Ends
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