University of East Anglia UCU

Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Education, has proposed that climate change be removed from the national curriculum. This should not be allowed to happen.  Nobody should leave school without some basic knowledge of the anthropogenic causes of climate change and its likely irreversible consequences for human beings and the whole planet.

This issue is of relevance to higher education for two reasons.  Firstly, such an understanding is necessary for the proper study of many subjects at university, and secondly, future teachers receive their professional education in universities.

On Tuesday, April 16th People & Planet submitted their formal curriculum consultation response with a focus on the geography curriculum and the citizenship curriculum, urging for key issues and concepts such as climate change, sustainability and active global citizenship to be retained. UCU, NUS, PCS, UNISON and TSSA all also signed this:

http://peopleandplanet.org/climate-consultation

Please read it to find out more information on the campaign.  It is not too late to join in.  If you click on the link you will find the template of a letter to Mr Gove.  Please consider writing to him.

For more information about UCU’s work on the environment and climate change, see: http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=3386

UCU’s Congress took place over the last weekend. Important decisions were made about many things including pensions, pay, workloads and UCU’s structure.  To read the motions and see which were carried: www.ucu.org.uk/congress
… and then click on ‘debate of motions’ in each section.

Information about the vote on pay that members are asked to participate in is here

 

Date for diary: ‘A Future that Works’ The TUC has announced a national demonstration in London on October 20th demanding investment and growth rather than the government policy of austerity and spending cuts.