Leaders of trade unions representing teachers and lecturers in Scotland, together with those representing teachers and lecturers throughout the UK and Ireland, have issued a joint letter to mark World Teachers’ Day, which is taking place this Sunday, 5 October. The letter calls for a stronger political commitment to high-quality, fully funded education as an entitlement for all children and young people.

This is the first time the leaders of all teachers and lecturers’ unions in the UK and Ireland have combined to sign one letter.

The right of all children and young people to be taught by fully qualified, resourced and respected teachers and lecturers, regardless of where they are educated, is paramount, say union leaders.

However, union leaders warn that attacks on teachers and lecturers’ pay and working conditions, coupled with spiralling workloads associated with major reform to the curriculum and qualifications systems, are undermining the work of teachers and lecturers and are detrimental to education provision.

Ensuring that all learners can continue to benefit from the skills and knowledge of a highly trained, supported and motivated teaching profession must be at the forefront of political leaders’ priorities to ensure that all students receive a world-class education.

Notes to editors

The letter which is signed by the General Secretaries and Presidents of all the teacher and lecturer unions in the UK and Ireland. Signatories are ASTI, ATL, EIS, IFUT, INTO, NASUWT, NUT, SSTA, TUI, UCU and UTU.  World Teachers’ Day is held annually on October 5 to celebrate the contribution which the 30 million teachers around the world make to the lives of children and young people every day. The union signatories to the joint letter are affiliated to Education International. Education International represents over 30 million teachers and educators across 170 countries and territories