Vince Cable: Teachers know "absolutely nothing about the world of work"

Vince Cable is now being criticised for saying that teachers know ‘about UCAS forms’ but ‘nothing’ about the daily grind.

16:55 06 March 2014

Business Secretary Vince Cable is now on hot water after he made a comment while speaking to 600 representatives of the manufacturing industry by saying that teachers know “absolutely nothing about the world of work.” 
He said: "There has been an argument in Government about how to get the right careers advice in schools and successive governments have frankly messed this up.”

"We haven't got this right. But the underlying problem is of course that most teachers, particularly in the secondary sector, are graduates.

"They know how universities work, they know what you have to do to get an A-level, they know about UCAS forms - but they know absolutely nothing about the world of work."

This remark did not sit well with NUT general secretary Christine Blower. She said: "This is a crass remark, which is insulting to teachers who are workers in their own right.”

"As the Government's own study - published just last week - shows, teachers work an extraordinary number of hours and show real dedication to 'the world of work'.

"Indeed, the teaching profession mirrors society and many of our teachers come from diverse backgrounds with different life experiences.

"They are a resource to the young people they teach, not a hindrance."