Teachers face being ‘forced’ from classes
Scores of teachers are being “forced out” of the profession due to a lack of available jobs, it has been claimed.
Huge numbers who qualified for the classroom last year are being left with “little hope” of a role following a controversial employment guarantee.
Scotland’s education secretary, John Swinney, has vowed to give positions to all Newly Qualified Teachers (NQTs), on the back of Covid-19.
And that’s left Recently Qualified Teachers (RQTs) at the back of the queue – despite boasting more experience.
One RQT told the Post: “John Swinney’s guarantee has effectively made my chances of a job non existent.
“Despite my experience and time already spent in a classroom, I will automatically be overlooked in favour of someone just newly qualified because of this rule.
“And any teaching job you go for just now in Ayrshire has 5060 people applying.
“The system is producing far too many teachers every year for the positions available.
“People like me in the Recently Qualified bracket will be forced out of the profession through no fault of our own.
“We have bills to pay and food to put on the table like everyone else and it just feels like we are being punished unfairly.”
Thousands have already signed a petition asking for a level playing field.
And Ayr MSP John Scott is pressing for change.
He said: “Like in so many areas of our national life, the coronavirus crisis has had a damaging impact on the teaching profession.
“I know from contact with several recently qualified teachers locally that they are struggling to find work and that some are even considering giving up on the profession altogether because they can’t obtain a secure post.
“We need to ensure that we don’t lose these trained professionals from teaching, and at the same time protect the interests of existing permanent staff and supply teachers, who are also vulnerable in the present circumstances.
“That’s why I have been in touch with the Education Secretary, John Swinney, to make the case for local teachers seeking secure employment, and I will continue to do what I can to support them in the current difficult circumstances.”
A council spokesman said: “South Ayrshire Council has agreed recruitment procedures in place for teachers, and we are currently working on the staffing requirements for August.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Funding of £50 million has been ringfenced for the recruitment of approximately 850 extra teachers and around 200 additional support staff as local authorities plan for the re-opening of schools.
“We will need all possible teaching resources at our disposal over the next year to compensate for any loss of learning suffered during lockdown, as well as to bring much needed resilience to the education system at this challenging time.
“We are working with local authorities to establish what additional staff are needed. Once we know that, we will take steps to meet that demand.”
Any teaching job you go for now in Ayrshire has 50-60 people applying