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Tania Swann with her eight month old baby, Ayanna |
FOREIGN TEACHERS TOLD TO GO
Fifty Aussies and Kiwis face sack as govt gets tough
FIFTY teachers – including the wife of one of Camden’s education directors – could lose their jobs in the borough’s schools due to government red tape.
The Department of Education and Skills has surprised teachers by toughening up rules on overseas training to ensure foreign staff take new exams to keep their jobs.
They have been told that qualifications obtained outside of the European Union will count for nothing.
The New Journal has learned that at least six teachers in Camden have already been fired including three who have been forced to leave England altogether. Others are racing to meet strict government deadlines.
The law has always demanded that teachers obtain ‘Qualified Teaching Status’ but the rules have been casually enforced in the past and teachers have been allowed to carry on in the classroom, in some cases, for more than a decade.
A sudden get-tough policy by the DfES has put scores of teachers in the firing line.
Hampstead School computing teacher Fabiola Pilli – the Australian wife of Andy Knowles, a former head at the Westbere Road comprehensive who now has a senior post in Camden Council’s education department – is among those in difficulty. She is one of two teachers at the school to lose her job.
Mr Knowles said last night (Wednesday): “I don’t think it’s appropriate that I comment. My personal involvement really doesn’t help anyone. It’s an unfortunate family circumstance that gets in the way of a job.”
After ten years teaching at Hampstead, Ms Pilli took extended maternity leave but planned to return this year. She has now been told it is illegal for the school to hire her.
Hampstead School’s current head Jacques Szemalikowski said: “I think it’s very sad and unfortunate. Certainly in Hampstead School it will not happen again. I’d like their qualifications to be recognised in the UK.”
Tania Swann, a senior English teacher at Hampstead for seven years, who was born in New Zealand, said: “The kids will suffer. New Zealanders, Australians and South Africans are a mainstay in British schools. It means students will have more supply teachers and temps and they will not have a consistent education. It’s ludicrous.”
Mrs Swann, 31, claimed she did not know about the change in law until a letter came through her door last month, telling her she was fired. Like Ms Pilli she had been on maternity leave.
New Zealander Mike Orr, 39, a teacher at Our Lady’s Primary School in Camden Town, has been forced to leave England because his work permit was suddenly terminated. He said: “I don’t want to leave. I think my kids and the school have really appreciated my work. I was really happy at my school and had mapped out my career there – but now I have to leave.” His last day at school is July 17.
Three teachers at the Swiss Cottage School in Avenue Road have also been fired.
Headteacher Kay Bedford said: “They’re obviously doing it to stop overseas trained teachers coming to this country, in order to leave room for English teachers, but when we advertise for staff we’re never overwhelmed by applicants.”
Two of her teachers were halfway through the training when they were kicked off and forced to leave England.
Critics said a side effect of the legislation could see state school teachers forced into the private sector, where the same rules don’t apply.
NUT member Helen Saunders said up to 50 teachers in the borough could be affected. She said: “There was never any pressure (on teachers to get the qualification). People were of the view that heads didn’t act on it and agencies who employed teachers didn’t tell them. It’s a catalogue of errors.”
A DfES press official said: “Overseas trained teachers are well-qualified and greatly valued, and make an important contribution to schools in England.” |
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