NUT Cymru launch Assembly manifesto

NUT CYMRU have outlined a range of policies which it claims will help ensure the Welsh education system respects teachers, supports parents and pupils, is child-centric and addresses the alarming funding concerns.

NUT Secretary, David Evans, said: “What we have put together for this manifesto is a range of considered policies that are based on the experiences, knowledge and expertise of those teaching in and leading schools right across Wales.

“We firmly believe the recommendations we are putting forward offer an exciting and innovative way of building on the excellent practice we already see in Welsh schools as well as bringing in new ideas to supplement that.

“Whichever political party is in power after the election must ensure that education is a top priority. As we build towards the introduction of a new curriculum, and aim to sell new Welsh qualifications to internal and external audiences, there has never been a more important time for the Welsh Government, and indeed opposition parties, to work with the teaching profession. We hope that our insight will act as a building block for the foundations of a positive next Assembly term for those seeking to ensure Wales delivers on the potential of our pupils.”

While other political parties were slow to respond, the Liberal Democrats were fast to claim that the NUT manifesto echoed its own policies; namely:

Reducing class sizes for infant classes to no more than 25 pupils, giving teachers more time with each individual child;

increasing funding for the party’s flagship Pupil Deprivation Grant, which provides extra funding for schools to help the education of their poorest pupils;

scrapping unaccountable regional education consortia, transferring their responsibilities back to local authorities

Aled Roberts AM, the Welsh Liberal Democrat Shadow Education Minister, said: “The Welsh Liberal Democrats are the party of education, the only party offering fresh ideas that put the needs of pupils and parents first within our schools.

“It’s great to see the National Union of Teachers in agreement with our key policies. In particular, their recognition that our flagship Pupil Deprivation Grant has had a vast impact on the attainment of poorer pupils is very much welcome.

“We know how vital it is to ensure every child has the best start in life. That’s the key priority we’ve used to win extra money for schools from the Welsh Government, and it will be the key guiding philosophy of Welsh Liberal Democrats in Government.”