SOME schools in the North have "shanty towns" of mobile classrooms, without any hope of money for new buildings, the Ulster Teachers' Union has been told.
The claim was made by former president, Mr Lexie Scott, on the final day of the annual conference in Newcastle on Saturday, when he proposed a tough response to education cuts on behalf of MidAntrim branch.
His amendment, which divided the delegates, deplored the decision by the British government to divert £119 million from public services to the security budget and called on it to reinstate this money and give schools increases on a par with those in England and Wales. It also demanded that the executive seek approval from members for a programme of action which would unite teachers, parents and public representatives in opposition to the severe cuts in education.
"Schools have been subjected to draconian cuts, yet we are being asked to leave conference with a half hearted response," Mr Scott said. "Early projections are for 400 job losses in controlled schools and 200 in the maintained sector."
He warned that the worst has still to come because present government plans assumed further reductions in the education budget in each of the next two years.
"I teach in a 200 year old building. Most of the children are in a shanty town of mobile classrooms out the back, yet there is no money for a new building.
"The resolution is fine but it does not go far enough. It is important that the executive has the authority to take whatever action is necessary. Give the resolution the teeth it needs," he told the delegates.
Mr David Allen, who retires as UTU general secretary at the end of the year, supported much of the amendment but claimed it had a hidden agenda.
"It is morally reprehensible for the government to divert £119 million to security. It smacks of a government which is running a police state. Education is a right for children, who are the only resource we have in this province.
"Teachers have the high moral ground on this issue, but if we ballot for industrial action we will lose that high ground. I want a straight answer from Mr Scott on what action he is proposing."
Mr Scott said it was up to the executive to decide what action to propose in the light of circumstances after the general election. He ruled out industrial action.
The amendment was carried.
Earlier, the conference accepted a resolution instructing the executive to ballot for industrial action if any members were made compulsorily redundant. It also backed a motion calling for more equitable funding for primary schools. Ms Monique Anderson, Dromore branch, said spending on primaries was "woefully inadequate".
In one Education and Library Board area, primary schools received £1,635 per pupil, whereas secondary pupils earned £2,470 for their schools. "Why should a pupil be worth so much in primary seventh year and worth considerably more in September when he or she transfers to secondary school?" she asked.