Launching officially during Challenge Poverty Week back in October was the EIS PACT online module series, which seeks to support teachers in mitigating the impact of poverty in the classroom and in the wider life of the school, through whole-school ethos and policy, and inclusive pedagogical approaches.

The launch event marked the product of months of work by PACT Co-leaders Sandra Scott and Kait Laughlin to research and design a comprehensive and coherent learning offer for all of Scotland’s school teachers, exploring the nature, causes and consequences of the poverty that currently affects a quarter of Scotland’s children and young people.

Like the launch event itself, the PACT professional learning offer has been shaped by the impact of the pandemic.

For the time being it is a digital learning offer only, with modules delivered on a live interactive basis online and made available also on a self-access basis to enable teachers’ engagement any time at their convenience either individually or with networks of colleagues.

Chaired by Assistant Secretary Andrea Bradley, the online launch event brought together around a hundred people keen to learn more about PACT professional learning and to share in the celebration of its success so far.

Guests included a range of EIS members and activists, in addition to representatives of Scottish Government, Education Scotland, GTCS, sister trade unions, NHS, the Poverty and Inequality Commission, local authorities, relevant third sector organisations, and academic and community partners who have supported the work of PACT since its inception.

Gillian Hamilton, Strategic Director and Chair of the PACT Project Advisory Board and speaking on its behalf, highlighted the strongly collaborative underpinnings of the Project and its significant potential to help teachers support children and young people who are experiencing poverty.

EIS Equality Convener Nicola Fisher spoke powerfully on her insights into the pernicious nature of poverty from her perspectives as a citizen, a teacher and an activist.

PACT Co-leaders Kait Laughlin and Sandra Scott, co-presented on the substance and detail of the module series itself, including its strong human rights dimension, and urged those in attendance to lend their support to the PACT community of interest in whatever way possible.

The event also featured filmed contributions from PACT learners, Nikhat Yusaf and Ruth Meikle, about the value and urgency of this professional learning; young people from Bellahouston Academy in Glasgow, giving their candid views on the impact of poverty on education; and from the General Secretary and Deputy First Minister John Swinney whose formal agreement at the 2017 International Summit on the Teaching Profession was the genesis of what is now EIS PACT professional learning.

The event was concluded with a fitting poem- ‘All People, all human’ by researcher and campaigner on poverty and human rights, Moraene Roberts, and read by recent school-leaver, Ana Bradley.

‘All People, all human’ by Moraene Roberts

All people, all human I’m telling the people with power that I have power too.

If you stifle my voice, and deny me a choice, I will show my power to you.

I will not come with a weapon, I will not come in fear.

I will come with others as sisters and brothers and a voice you will have to hear.

I’m telling the people with knowledge that I have knowledge too.

If you ignore my words, and deny what you’ve heard, my knowledge will be lost to you.

I will not come in anger, I will not come in pain, I will come as me, with dignity, and your denial will be to your shame.

I’m telling the people with control, that I have control too.

PACT launch attendees on the event:

‘This is a fantastic event! Really insightful to hear pupils talk about what they feel and how poverty affects them. Also great words earlier from the speakers about the impact of poverty and it brought back one or two memories from areas I grew up in and people I grew up with. Poverty always has been a scourge on society and it is pretty awful that we still haven’t tackled many issues that happen again and again. Great to see some definitive action to raise awareness and to try to tackle the issues involved.’ Jim Moore, GTCS

‘Informative, inspiring presentation. Looking forward to starting the modules as well as having conversations within my school community.’ Karen Rolfe, St Thomas’ R.C. School, Keith

‘An absolutely super event! Thank-you so much for the invitation. The PACT module looks amazing and very timely.’ Lindsay Graham, Poverty and Inequality Commission

‘What a truly inspiring event. I haven’t felt so uplifted after a virtual meeting in a very long time. I was grateful to be included.’ Sharon Hayward, Education Scotland

PACT launch attendees on PACT PL:

‘This sounds very exciting and this work is, sadly, going to be more important in the COVID recovery era.’ Asif Chisti, EIS Equality Rep

‘There’s never been such an important time to launch these resources – these will make such an important contribution to the collaborative effort required across all sectors to tackle poverty…’ Kerry McKenzie, Organisational Lead – Child Poverty, NHS Health Scotland

‘The Human Rights approach is a game changer.’ Louise Hayward, University of Glasgow and PACT Project Advisory Board

‘Great to see PACT resources being launched.’ Bill Scott, Poverty and Inequality Commission (Chair)

 

To explore the self-access PACT module series, visit: www.eis.org.uk/Professional-Learning/PACT