Wirral teachers said they are “teaching 21st century children with 20th century resources” as they go on strike for a second day this month.
The National Education Union, one of several teaching unions, went on strike on February 28 over pay and working conditions calling for what they consider to be a proper pay rise from the government.
The union said previous proposed increases would be taken out of school budgets putting further pressure on schools and staff.
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Education Secretary Gillian Keegan wrote to teaching unions on February 21 inviting them to engage in talks but only if current strikes were called off. She said: “Our hope is that we can find a fair and reasonable settlement that recognises the vital role teachers play.”
The government said it has increased funding for schools by £2bn both from April 2023 and then again in 2024 and is the highest real terms spending on schools in history, with £58.8 billion in total by 2024-25.
However those on the ground say that funding is not being seen in schools with staff burnout, high workloads, as well as a lack of funding for schools themselves, not just staff.
Terry Dobbins, a Year 5 teacher at Somerville Primary School, said: “The pressure’s piled on constantly and you see the mental health of teachers suffer constantly. Morale is quite low across teaching staff a lot of the time.
“At the moment we’re teaching 21st century children with 20th century resources as far as I’m concerned. I speak to people in Switzerland and each child has a laptop.
“At the moment that isn’t happening and trying to do research lessons and you’ve got eight IPads per class, how are you meant to teach a class with that?”
Ferdushi Mohshin, a teacher at Woodlands Primary School, said: “I think we’re always going to be disappointed when we want to sit down and have a conversation to resolve this and it’s not reciprocated. It is disappointing but at the same time we know we can’t lose morale because everything is about the children.”
Her son, Yasin Mohshin, spoke at a rally at the Floral Pavilion in New Brighton. He said: “I know it’s hard for you to strike but you don’t just do it for yourselves, you do it for us, your children.”
Speaking to the LDRS, he said: “I see what my Mum has to do at home. She comes home at five after school but then has to do more work and then cook as well. A lot of our teachers do so much but don’t get any recognition.”
At the rally, representatives for the union warned that job losses could be coming and argued the pay increases and school funding was needed to get staff into education.
Ian Harris, Secretary of Wirral NEU, said turnout was higher on the picket lines this time around, adding: “we want a fully funded pay increase, value teachers, value educators and let’s value the children."
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