Shetland teacher named vice-president of Scottish union
A SHETLAND teacher has been named vice-president of the world’s oldest teaching union.
Valerie Inkster was appointed to the role at the AGM of the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) earlier this month after a 25-year career in teaching.
Inkster, who is stepping back from her teaching role at Dunrossness primary to pursue the role, said she was “really looking forward” to representing Shetland on the national stage.
“It’s going to be very different,” she told Shetland News.
“I’m not going to have bairns asking me questions the whole time anymore, I’m going to have adults doing that instead.
“It’s going to challenge me in aspects of education I’m not really familiar with. It’s something I’m really looking forward to doing.”
Inkster said she had decided to stand for election to the vice-president position last year, having served on a number of EIS committees over the years.
She has also represented members through the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers, which brings together unions, local authorities and the Scottish Government.
Her appointment was officially confirmed at the EIS’ latest AGM in early June, and Inkster said she was delighted to be representing such a historic organisation.
“The EIS was established in 1847, it’s the oldest teacher’s trade union in the world,” she said. “We had our 180th AGM this month.
“I thought it would be great opportunity to get more involved and find out more about the other committees in education.
“I’ll be attending more of their meetings and hearing the issues they are dealing with at the moment.”
Alongside her Dunrossness teaching job, Inkster has already taken over as EIS vice-president.
However once the school term comes to an end for the summer holidays on Friday 3 July, she will step away from the classroom full-time.
She will be working with the EIS’ committees, sub-committees and other teaching trade unions across the world – and will attend a teaching conference in Brazil this September.
Inkster said she would be “there to stand up for education” across Scotland, as well as “standing up for teacher’s rights”.
“I want to push that we get the best education that we possibly can for all bairns,” she said.
“One of the things we’re dealing with is ASN [additional support needs], and we need the best for every pupil. I’ll be standing up for quality education for all.”
She said the role was “not about fighting everything”, but about “working along with people like COSLA and the Scottish Government in order to get the best for teachers”.
What she learns in meetings and conversations across the next year will benefit both herself and teachers locally, she added.
Inkster said the role was “kinda daunting at first”, but she admitted she was “really embracing it”.
She thanked “all of the colleagues that have helped and encouraged me over the years”, Shetland Islands Council for allowing her to pursue the role and all who nominated and voted for her as vice-president.
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