The University and College Union (UCU) has said it is “delighted” to back the Tes #LetThemTeach campaign. The campaign, which has already received the backing of school teacher unions and the Association of Colleges, was launched last month, with a parliamentary petition launched this week. 

It aims to stop non-EU international teachers from being turned away from Britain, and follows a Tes investigation which revealed that desperately needed international teachers are being forced to quit their jobs and leave the country at short notice because they cannot renew their visas.

#LetThemTeach therefore calls for the entire teaching profession to be added to the “shortage occupation list”, which gives higher priority for visas each month. Currently only teachers in four subjects - maths, physics, computer science and Mandarin - are on the list.

Restricting the right to work

UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: “UCU is delighted to back the #LetThemTeach campaign. Restricting people’s right to work here obviously puts extra pressure on international teachers, but it also has a real impact on other staff and students who are faced with rising workloads and a lack of continuity.”

She added: “The best way to deal with the recruitment crisis in further education is to make the job an attractive one, and that starts with proper pay and conditions. The worst possible way to deal with it is to seek ways to remove teachers we already have.”

Please support our campaign and sign the Let Them Teach petition. If the petition hits 10,000 signatures the government is obliged to formally respond to it. If it hits 100,000 signatures it will be considered for a debate in Parliament. To sign it, click here. 

Find out more about Tes’ campaign by visiting the Let Them Teach homepage.