Fall in number of specialist teachers ‘due to workload’
THE number of specialist teachers in secondary schools has plummeted over the past decade amid claims heavy workloads and static pay are driving staff away.
Critics claim increased bureaucracy and the chaos surrounding the implementation of the new Curriculum for Excellence added to a lack of morale.
Statistics show there has been an 11 per cent decline in subject specialists since 2008, with numbers dropping from 24,418 to 21,707 in 2017.
While secondary school teacher numbers have risen slightly over the last two years, the figures highlight significant decline in a number of key disciplines. The number of English teachers has dropped by almost 20 per cent, those teaching mathematics have dropped 15% and general science teachers have declined by 11%.
Most modern languages have also seen numbers decline steeply with a 32% drop in French teachers and a 44% drop in German teachers.
Liz Smith, education spokeswoman for the Scottish Conservative Party, warned the substantial decline would have a “significant negative effect” on the level of education pupils receive.
She said: “We all know that the confusion and chaos during the implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence has driven many teachers away and this is further evidence that a generation of pupils are being badly let down by the SNP.”
The NASUWT teaching union also attacked the decline saying many experienced teachers were leaving the profession because of concerns over workload and stagnant pay. A spokeswoman said: “Teachers are dealing with ever rising workloads driven by oppressive marking and assessment regimes and administrative tasks and uncompetitive salary levels as a result of years of cuts, caps and freezes.
“Teacher burnout manifesting itself in spiralling levels of mental and physical ill health.
“Unless ministers accept the mounting evidence, grasp the nettle and take action to address effectively the problems they have created, the position will only deteriorate further.”
Larry Flanagan, general secretary of the EIS union, added: “Wider issues such as severe teacher workload, lack of opportunities for career progression, and declining levels of teachers’ pay must also be addressed if the growing challenge in teacher recruitment is to be overcome.”
Targets for teacher recruitment have now been increased and ministers hope to increase supply with the development of new fast-track options. The Government also launched a campaign to encourage graduates into so-called Stem subjects such as science and maths with bursaries for those wishing to retrain.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Teacher numbers – including secondary teachers – are increasing. The fact is there are more secondary teachers than at any time since 2014 and the ratio of pupils to teachers is at its lowest since 2010.” IT has been showcasing young talent for more than a century and yesterday Chun Yi Kang became the latest in a long list of musicians to be honoured at the annual Glasgow Music Festival.
Miss Kang, 13, is a pupil at Douglas Academy in Milngavie and she came third in the Piano Solos open class competition at Renfield St Stephen’s church. The competition attracted 84 entrants of pianists showing their range of talents on the piano. Glasgow Music Festival is an annual festival of music, speech, drama and dance and was first held in 1911. Each year 7,000 performers take part in the two-week festival which runs until March 17.
Unless ministers grasp the nettle the position will deteriorate further