The National Union of Teachers (NUT) has criticised chancellor George Osborne's Budget.
NUT general secretary Christine Blower said if the government wanted to create growth then it would have announced the reversal of public sector cuts, the abolition of Education Maintenance Allowance payments and the reduction in post-16 education funding.
"The government pretends that it is protecting the living standards of ordinary people, but in reality – as inflation increases – the chancellor is attacking the living standards of public sector workers by freezing their pay and increasing their pension contributions," she commented.
"The NUT deplores the government's decision to endorse Lord Hutton's recommendations on cutting public sector pensions. There is nothing in this Budget to reassure teachers and other public sector workers that their futures are safe in the government's hands."
Furthermore, the union branded plans to create 24 new university technical colleges (UTCs) as "extremely divisive".
Ms Blower said the move will create a two-tier system, where these institutions are seen as the poor cousin to universities and colleges.
As well as announcing the creation of more UTCs, Mr Osborne revealed plans to fund an extra 40,000 apprenticeships.
Posted by Dolcie Thacker
Related News
Register for day to day, long-term and permanent teaching jobs.
