New teachers short-changed by Fife Council

Retirees urged back to work while probationers go without jobs

Newly-qualified teachers have slammed Fife Council for failing to offer them jobs while retired teachers are being urged back into work.

Many of those who have just finished a probationary year have yet to be offered jobs, with existing staff working flat-out to ensure pupils can return to school in August.

A group has written to Education Secretary John Swinney over the apparent contradiction. David Farmer, Fife rep for the largest teaching union, the EIS, said the kingdom had been singled out for criticism over its treatment of newly-qualified teachers.

He said: “While procedurally, what Fife Council has done is proper, in a moral sense it is completely improper.”

Newly qualified teachers in Fife and Tayside remain jobless with just weeks until pupils are due to return to school.

Despite moves to bring retired teachers back into the profession during the coronavirus pandemic many of those who have completed their probationer year have yet to be offered contracts.

A joint letter from probationer teachers affected nationwide has urged Education Secretary John Swinney to take action and ensure their skills are not lost.

It said: “It is deeply worrying and upsetting that with less than a week to go until our schools officially close for the summer break a whole batch of enthusiastic NQTs find ourselves unemployed and facing uncertainty about our futures in this profession.”

Referring to re-employment of retired teachers, it went on: “Given the risk attached to that age category and the fact that we have already adapted to blended and virtual learning models, does it not seem more logical to utilise us?”

People have been left worrying about paying their mortgages and bills.”

One new teacher told how Fife Council confirmed in what she said was an “impersonal” email with “no empathy” sent earlier this month that she met the criteria for a post but that it was unable to offer her a contract.

The letter said education staff were still working with schools to ensure sufficient people for August and that once Covid-19 recovery plans were finalised more teachers may be hired.

David Farmer, of the EIS Fife local association, said that Fife Council had been singled out by his teaching union for criticism over its treatment of NQTs.

He said: “While procedurally what

Fife Council has done is proper, in a moral sense it is completely improper.

“At this time in a pandemic and with the need for teachers it doesn’t make any sense at all.”

Probationer teachers would have been told after interviews in February and March that they met the criteria for employment, he said.

Fife Council said it had advertised for primary and secondary teachers across Scotland and appointed both internally and externally.

A spokeswoman said: “A large number of current probationers have been recruited to posts within Fife, however it is not possible to offer all our probationers employment opportunities, particularly within our secondary schools where pupil subject choice determines the staffing requirements for a school.”

A Dundee City Council spokesman said: “We have employed on a permanent basis a number of NQTs and are currently finalising our requirement for session 2020-21.”

Mr Swinney said earlier this month he had asked the General Teaching Council to bring retired teachers and registered teachers who had left the profession back in schools.

They would be required to help deliver blended models which will see pupils attend school part-time and continue school work at home.

Angus Council’s special arrangements committee will be asked to approve the recruitment of up to 40 temporary teachers today.

A Perth and Kinross Council spokesperson said: “We are looking to offer all appointable probationers a contract from the start of the new term. Many contracts have already been sent out, with a small number to follow.”