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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National

FE lecturers play a vital role – yet they are underpaid and undervalued

A college class.
‘FE college lecturers are paid 23% less than schoolteachers. This is a scandal and must be rectified.’ Photograph: Alamy

Polly Toynbee points out so many ways in which British people can be encouraged to work (Fear and sanctions have failed to get Britain working. Why not try tea and empathy?, 20 September). In the course of her article she points out that further education (FE) college lecturers are paid 23% less than schoolteachers. This is a scandal and must be rectified. I conduct a clinic for students with attention defect hyperactivity disorder and half who attend have autistic spectrum disorder, too. Many of them are excellently educated in FE colleges. In fact, for these young people with neurodevelopmental disorders, their needs are better met there than in secondary schools. The Guardian and all of us must make more noise about this disgraceful undervaluation of FE lecturers.
Robin Davies
Tregarth, Gwynedd

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