SCHOOL REFORM (5)

Danish "folkeskoler" teachers, those teaching children up to the ages of around 16, are still locked out. But teachers at "gymnasier", the academic sixth forms, which children attend from 16-19, have been hard at work for the past month. Pressed by the Government in the same direction (i.e. to give up the right to decide how they organise their non-teaching work hours), their union capitulated in return for a generous dollop of cash.

That deal was put to the membership, who have just voted on it. Not surprisingly, a resounding 85% rejected it. However, because of a quirk, the new deal will come into being on 1 August anyway. That is because the gymnasier teachers negotiated with the employers as part of a broader coalition of academic groups, which also included university staff. So the gymnasier teachers' no votes have been outweighed by the other groups' acceptances.

What the vote does clearly show is how unpopular the employers'/Government's proposal is amongst teachers. However, that is highly unlikely to have any effect.

Walter Blotscher