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POLL: More than half of black and minority ethnic teachers feel they have been held back in their careers because of racial discrimination

NEARLY HALF of black and minority ethnic teachers feel they have been held back in their careers because of racial discrimination.

Over 350 teachers from across the country gathered at the annual Black and Minority Ethnic Teachers’ Conference in Birmingham on Saturday (Dec 7) and took part in a poll which explored their views on a series of topics relating to their profession.

It was found that over three quarters of BME teachers considered themselves to be ambitious, yet stated they are being held back by racial discrimination and the attitude of senior colleagues.

The poll also found that 63 per cent of BME teachers believed their employers were not committed to ensuring their mental and physical wellbeing at work, with workload cited as the single most negative factor impacting their wellbeing.

Ninety nine per cent of BME teachers at the conference, organised by the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers, the largest teacher’s union, felt the Government did not respect and value teachers and does not understand the day-to-day realities of teaching.

It was also announced that 75 per cent of BME teachers said they were not confident that their head teacher will make professional and fair decisions regarding their future pay.

Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT, who addressed the conference, said: “Holding back the potential and talent of teachers on grounds of their race or colour is damaging the prospects of pupils.”

He continued: “The Coalition Government’s reforms to the teachers’ pay system, which give more freedoms to individual schools to determine teachers’ pay, has been overwhelmingly rejected by BME teachers who fear it will exacerbate discrimination against BME teachers.”

All of the issues raised at the conference will be taken forward by the NASUWT who are continuing to press the government for a fair, national framework of pay and conditions for all teachers.