The National Education Union have set up teacher strike campaigns across the region of South Yorkshire after demanding a pay rise for all their teachers inline with inflation.
Why are they striking?
Children across the region are suffering from the lack of resources that are available to support the kids.
Simon Murch, 54, joint secretary for the union said: “Resources for kids are in short supply as well as the pay for the educators is not in proportion to inflation, in real terms since 2010 the growth has been very minimal.
“The money we get is top sliced so they take four or five per cent for the admin stuff.’’
In reality, the money that is provided by the education department is does not meet the requirments needed, and many teachers are beening forced to bring their own resources to help with the development of the kids.
As a result, one in four teachers are leaving the profession within two years of qualifying.
Mr Murch also said: “I know a few teachers in this area who quit their job and are now working as a store assistant at Aldi. It’s better pay so I don’t blame them.”
According to the National Union of Education, there has been a fall of 23% in teacher trainee recruitment. The fall means most teachers who enter the sector are not likely to be qualified in their sector.
When are the strikes happening?
Teachers across the South Yorkshire region took part in the strikes on Wednesday this week, in the first of the seven days of the industrial action by members of the National Education Union which is the largest Education Union in the UK.
Mr Murch said: “The plan is to merge with the other unions across the UK, but the current issue is we all have different ideas but i am confident in the next coming years we will merge and create an even bigger voice.”