THE new captain of the good ship Scottish Education does not plan any major change of course as she takes over the helm. She has, however, delegated significant new responsibilities to her second officer and run a shot across the bows of the crew.
In her first major speech since taking office, Cathy Jamieson, the new Education Minister, told delegates at the Educational Institute of Scotland’s education conference in Edinburgh that she intended “to pick up where (Jack McConnell) left off and take forward the important work he initiated”.
Ms Jamieson confirmed, as reported in The TES Scotland last week, that “to maintain continuity” Nicol Stephen, Deputy Education Minister, will take responsibility for teachers and schools, with a particular remit to oversee implementation of the teachers’ agreement.
“This should not be seen as a demotion of the importance of teachers and the agreement, rather a recognition of the critical nature of the process,” she said. “Nicol and I will work as a team but I am not too proud to recognise that at this moment he is best placed to serve teachers and therefore serve children.”
The new captain said that while the post-McCrone agreement recognised the rights of teachers, it also brought responsibilities, one of which is “to do the job well, however long it takes - without counting hours or watching clocks”.
Ms Jamieson identified the change in trust and dialogue which has been established at a national level as a “crucial” consequence of the McCrone process and urged that that spirit should be transferred to schools and local authorities. “We all have a part to play in ensuring that the spark of trust is maintained and nurtured.”
The steady as she goes approach was welcomed by Alan Munro, secretary of East Renfrewshire local association of the EIS. Mr Munro said: “It is good that the minister has decided to continue with the co-operative and partnership approach that has paid dividends so far, and that Nicol Stephen has been given responsibility for teachers, since he has more knowledge of this brief at the moment.”
But Mr Munro reflected concern at Ms Jamieson’s remark that teachers should “do the job well, however long it takes”. The 35-hour week was “a perfectly respectable and adequate number of hours to get a good job done”.
