An alarming number of teachers and college lecturers across the UK are being pushed to the brink, with many forced to use food banks and take on second jobs just to make ends meet, a major new survey has revealed.
The damning research from the National Education Union (NEU), seen exclusively by The Independent, paints a devastating picture of an education sector in crisis. It comes as the government faces mounting pressure over school funding and staff retention.
‘I skip meals to feed my children’
The survey findings are stark. They detail the heart-wrenching sacrifices education professionals are making. One teacher confessed, "I skip meals to ensure my children have enough to eat", while another revealed they regularly rely on family members for basic groceries.
This isn't just about low pay; it's about a spiralling cost of living crisis colliding with years of real-terms pay cuts in the public sector. For many dedicated staff, their passion for teaching is now overshadowed by financial anxiety.
Second jobs and side hustles become the norm
To survive, educators are turning to drastic measures. The report highlights a significant rise in staff taking on additional work outside of their teaching hours. This includes:
- Working in bars, restaurants, and retail
- Taking on tutoring and childcare roles
- Selling personal belongings online
- Driving for delivery services
This extra workload is creating a vicious cycle, exacerbating burnout and stress within a profession already facing record-high vacancy rates.
A system on the verge of breakdown
Union leaders are warning that the situation is unsustainable. Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the NEU, stated that the findings should serve as a "massive wake-up call" for the government.
"The fact that our educators, the very people shaping the future of our children, are being forced to food banks is a national disgrace", she said. "This is a direct result of failed policy and chronic underfunding."
The NEU is now urgently calling for a fully-funded, above-inflation pay rise for all teachers and support staff, alongside greater investment in school budgets to address the deepening crisis.
