Employment law ‘must protect teachers facing discrimination’

Posted 09/11/2009

The National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) has called for employment law measures to be taken in order to curb discrimination against ethnic minority teachers.

A new survey conducted by the union has revealed that more than half of the black and ethnic minority teachers polled feel they have been victims of discrimination during their career.

As a result, NASUWT general secretary Chris Keates has called for more transparency to be introduced to the profession, including a means of monitoring the progress of minority workers.

She suggested that the implementation of such measures will help to increase fairness in the sector and ultimately lead to higher overall standards.

Ms Keates said: “The union will be using this report to press for urgent action to tackle this serious issue and allow all teachers, irrespective of background, to realise their full potential.”

This comes after the union earlier this year published guidance for employers in the teaching profession designed to protect Muslim workers from facing discrimination and mistreatment.