Honour teachers, says Aamer
published:26 Jan 2010
New Council member Aamer Naeem, one of the GTC’s 13 public appointees, has a heartfelt desire for the ‘honourable’ profession of teaching to be given the value it deserves.
Aamer’s interest in education springs from his role as the father of four children, aged from nine to 10 months. ‘My daughter has special needs,’ he says, ‘and I soon found myself involved in the battle to have her properly supported.
'My son is gifted and talented, and I again became involved with his school to ensure that he was getting the attention and challenges that he needs.’
So when a vacancy came up on the governing body of his daughter’s school, Aamer jumped at the chance. He has since had the leading role in Nottingham council’s governor recruitment video, aimed at black and ethnic minority communities.
But it is his own experience as an adult trainer for his management consultancy, Innov8 Creative Solutions, and his work co-ordinating the Muslim Council of Britain’s leadership development programme, that spurred him on to apply for the GTC role.
Passion
He said: ‘My passion is for training, and my clients include heads and deputy heads. It is a wonderful feeling to watch people grow in terms of their confidence and the way they start to think about problems. This is what teachers do on a daily basis.
‘Teaching is very attractive to me as a practising Muslim. Mohammed was a teacher and a teacher trainer, and the whole profession is seen as exceptionally honourable in my religion.’
Of his first full meeting of the 64-member council, he says: ‘I was very impressed that such a large body was able to remain focused and make decisions in an efficient way.’ Sitting on disciplinary hearings is ‘challenging’, but he sees this regulatory role as vital for the GTC and teaching profession.
He says: ‘I have an identity as a father and I want everything that is best for my children. I also have an identity as a citizen who wants to fight for a fairer world. I believe that I should contribute to my community and to society by getting involved with charities, being a governor, and taking on this role with the GTC.’
His two priorities are to improve and simplify the system for children with special needs and to make sure that teachers are given the status they deserve.
‘Teachers are not valued in the way they should be,’ he feels, citing the undermining of teachers’ authority and the conflicting rights of children, parents and teachers.
‘Teachers should be awarded the respect they deserve as members of an admirable profession.’
