20/04/2014 BBC Wales Today

It is time for the Welsh government to take responsibility for our

teachers' pay and conditions, according to one teaching union. But

they say it will leave teachers out-of-pocket. Empty playgrounds and

locked gates. Last month, half of the schools in Wales were either

completely or partially closed as teachers walked out on strike. It is

an ongoing dispute with the UK Government over pay and conditions.

Education in Wales is mainly a devolved issue, but how much a

teacher here gets paid is still a matter for Westminster. Today, a

union which represents 5000 teachers in Wales says this situation cannot

continue. There are two education systems in England and Wales, and

they are diverging so quickly, that it is time for the Welsh government

to take responsibility for pay and conditions of teachers in Wales.

Michael Gove's decision to develop a system where there is more local

power, more powerful schools to decide on the pay of individual

teachers, is a great threat to teachers in Wales. Last month, a

report by the Silk Commission recommended that pay and conditions

of teachers should be devolved to Cardiff Bay. That had not been the

preferred option by ministers, but there are now signs that the stance

of the Welsh government is softening. I hope consensual talks

can begin about how that kind of situation could be best constructed.

But most teaching unions are opposing the recommendation. At its

annual conference in Brighton town today, the NUT said Wales cannot

afford its own national framework for teachers, and its members would

lose out Robbie inevitably, teachers in Wales would be getting paid

less. We are a low paid economy, at the end of the day. We would see a

drift of experienced teachers across the border into England. Many in the

profession believe strikes like these could be avoided if they wish

to want -- if the Welsh government could take control of these

decisions. But many more argue that this would come at a cost which in

Wales we simply cannot afford. The Fire Service is urging people to

report grass fires after they received 100 calls in one day this

week. They have tackled at least 480 since the start of April. It has

cost the service ?850,000 in south Wales so far this year. Rugby, and

the Blues and the ospreys both came out on top this afternoon at the

Millennium Stadium, in a double-header. With the Scarlets

playing for Europe, the Blues playing for a third win, and most

playing to impress the Wales coach, today was about more than bragging

rights. Alex Cuthbert got the best start for the Blues, going over

within four minutes. He did not have long to celebrate. He was taken out

in the air by Liam Williams. It was a yellow card, and it could have

been red. Rhys Priestland got a try to get the Scarlets back into it,

even if he missed the conversion. The second half was quieter, until

two red cards, one for a stamp from Robin Copeland, and a second yellow

for Liam Williams for slowing the play. Williams had a break and

minutes later was able to finish it, bringing the Scarlets within a

point. But a penalty put an end to hopes of a victory.

There was plenty of action early in the Dragons- ospreys game, as well

as lots of frustration. The ospreys are the only region still hunting a

Pro12 semifinal place, but they could not take their chances. Ryan

Jones stopped the Dragons taking theirs. He was sent to the sin bin

at the end of a first half which finished pointless. The Dragons went

on the scoreboard with a try from Richie Rees. Tom have a field

crossed the line for the Ospreys. A penalty for the dragons levelled the

scores. But it all came down to the final few minutes. A penalty try for

the Ospreys sealed the win. Football, and Cardiff City manager

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says his side can stay up, after a 1-1 draw at

home to Stoke. The Bluebirds are two points adrift, with three games to

go. Meanwhile, Garry Monk says Wilfried Bony can only get better.

The striker scored both goals in their victory at Newcastle

yesterday, including a penalty in stoppage time. Cricket, and

Glamorgan are 47-6 in their first innings against Gloucester, with

rain having stopped play. Let's see if the weather is looking any

brighter. Hope you're having a great Easter

break. We can look forward some sunshine tomorrow. But tonight, the

cloudy theme continues, with a little bit of rain in the forecast

as well. This rain is coming from the south-east. It will clear away

north and westwards. The winds will be lighter, overnight temperatures

getting down to about six. First thing tomorrow morning, there will

be some brightness around, with plenty of dry weather. In the

afternoon, the showers get going. They could be heavy at times. There

could be some thunder. It will be feeling warmer. The start of next

week, remaining unsettled. week, remaining

I will be back with our late update just after quarter past ten.

Bye-bye. Hello. Well, it was another lovely

sunny day across the north of the UK. What a