Time for teacher training would ‘horrify’ parents

Not enough time spent teaching staff the basics, MSPs say

Student teachers spend as little as 44 hours on numeracy training during their four-year course, a study has revealed.

The Scottish Government analysis also found some training colleges were offering just 48 hours on honing literacy teaching techniques during the entire course. It follows concerns raised by trainee teachers to MSPs last week about their peers not having the numeracy skills to teach 11-year-olds properly.

On average, students spend 84 hours on literacy and 61 hours on numeracy, according new analysis of initial teacher education (ITE) courses.

Education secretary John Swinney said he was “very concerned” by wide variations in the amount of time spent on the areas.

Former teacher Liz Smith, for the Scottish Conservatives, said the evidence emerging on the shortcomings ITE courses would leave parents “horrified”.

“I call on the Scottish Government this afternoon to bring forward with the most urgent priority the necessary changes that will make all aspects of teacher training fit for purpose,” she said.

Scottish Labour’s Daniel Johnson said concerns raised about literacy and numeracy training in Scottish courses “must ring alarm bells”.

“The only way we will address the declines in literacy and numeracy is if we equip our teachers to tackle it,” he added.

A total of eight universities in Scotland offer the post-graduate diploma in education.

Mr Swinney said: “I acknowledge the issues that exist within initial teacher education, the government committed in the delivery plan last June that we would investigate these issues and we have done exactly that and we have reported to parliament.

He added: “The government does not control universities, despite what some may allege to be the case, and universities have a responsibility for the delivery of quality of education.”

He continued: “I look to everybody in the system to fulfil their obligations to address these issues properly”.

Liz Lakin, a senior lecturer in education, told MSPs more has to be done to improve numeracy and literacy training.

Last week figures showed only 49% of Scotland’s 13 and 14-year-olds are performing well in writing.