UK: Unions call for increased dialogue with new Education Secretary
Following the reshuffle of the UK government by Prime Minister Theresa May, educators have welcomed the nomination of Damian Hinds as Education Secretary, and anticipate an ongoing social dialogue with him.
The appointment of Damian Hinds as the UK’s Education Secretary has been marked by a call for ongoing dialogue by education unions.
“We had a good relationship with [former Education Secretary] Justine Greening, with whom we had regular meetings,” said National Education Union (NEU) Joint General Secretaries Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney.
Greening listened to teachers and unions, although she was unable to make the necessary changes in education policy, they stressed.
Call for dialogue and funds
“We hope Damian Hinds will be similarly willing to meet and engage with us and the profession. And we hope he will be able to make the changes we need in education policy,” they both said.
They are also urging Hinds to champion the need for extra funding for education and to secure more funding for education from the Treasury.
