The greatest threat to high quality education for all is the continuing commercialisation and privatisation of education. We have seen a significant increase in ‘edu-businesses’ which have enormous power and influence across the world. As a result we decided to focus on the relationship between politics, power and privatisation. The Education at What Price? Conference held at NUT headquarters on 16 May, sought to investigate this further and give members the tools to expose corporations and hold Governments accountable.
Over 100 delegates attended eager to learn, engage and contribute to the debate. The creation of private schools paid for by public money, whether called “free schools,” “academies” or “charter schools,” undermines the profession and children’s education. “Education is a fundamental human right and private schools must be resisted” said Kishore Singh, UN Special Rapporteur. While Angelo Gavrielatos, urged Governments to “stop supporting fee-charging private education and start funding public education.”
In collaboration with the Teacher Solidarity website, the NUT has just released a book Global Education 'Reform': building resistance and solidarity, edited by National Executive member Gawain Little. This book provides an explanation of the Global Education Reform Movement (GERM), and looks at the strategies teacher unions are using to respond and what we can learn from them. It is available from the publishers’ website. To purchase click here.
International education unions and global justice campaigners lobby ‘edu-business’ Pearson
Photo gallery from the Pearson AGM.
#TellPearson education should not be run for profit. Our photo gallery from the Pearson AGM, including Pearson CEO, John Fallon talking to NUT Deputy General Secretary, Kevin Courtney and Global Justice Now Director, Nick Dearden outside the AGM. Also, speakers at our press conference: Kevin Courtney, Nick Dearden, American Federation of Teachers President, Randi Weingarten and ATL General Secretary Mary Bousted with parents Sarah Williams and Christine McGeoy.
On 24 April, teachers and parents from the UK and the United States joined forces with global justice campaigners to lobby shareholders at the annual general meeting of global education corporation Pearson. To read the letter we have addressed to Pearson, please click here.
Click here to see what we are asking Pearson to do.