First Minister criticised over ‘recruitment crisis’

Ruth Davidson accused the SNP of presiding over a “failing” education system as she told MSPs a “teacher recruitment crisis” meant seven out of 10 schools cannot offer pupils all the subjects they want.

The Scottish Conservative leader criticised First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who earlier this week said not everything was perfect in Scotland as the SNP marked its 10th anniversary in government.

Ms Davidson attacked the SNP leader on the party’s record in education, saying there were now 4,000 fewer teachers than when the nationalists came to power in 2007.

She went on to tell the First Minister that 70% of schools were “constrained in the subjects they can offer their (S4) pupils because of teacher shortage”.

The Tory raised the issue at First Minister’s Questions, telling MSPs: “Instead of facing this crisis, what do we get?

“This week we’ve seen backslapping of 10 years in power while education is getting worse and the reality is this is a First Minister who has presided over a teacher recruitment crisis, who has fallen asleep at the wheel on education.

“Now we have all had enough. Isn’t it time we had a First Minister who doesn’t just admit the occasional mistake but actually does something about all of them?”

Ms Sturgeon replied: “I am the first to admit there is much more to do but Ruth Davidson should stop doing a disservice to teachers and to pupils across the country by using terms like a failing education system.

“We do not have a failing education system in Scotland. Ruth Davidson should be ashamed standing up here suggesting we do.”