YOU’RE FAILING NEW TEACHERS
Rennie: Promised jobs do not exist
MANY newly-qualified teachers are facing a summer of uncertainty because they can’t find permanent jobs, the Lib Dems have warned.
Despite completing a probationary year in the classroom and passing interviews, recent graduates are being told that there are no secure roles available.
This is despite a Scottish Government drive to hire more teachers to handle classroom disruption.
Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie has called for SNP ministers to intervene after he was approached by several newly-qualified teachers who have failed to secure jobs with Fife Council.
One recently qualified teacher, Lisajane Ellis, said: “Despite passing the interview in Fife in March and completing a probationary year, I too am left without a job from August onwards.
“I have been invited to apply to join the supply list in Fife.
“It is likely I will need to interview, again, for the honour of being placed on a zero-hours contract.
“I left a successful career to retrain as a teacher.”
She added: “I was under the impression there was a shortage of teachers in Scotland and that people like me, successful in other areas of professional life, older with a varied life experience, would be welcomed eagerly.
“It is quite clear that in Fife, and in many other local authorities, there simply are not enough posts available.”
Arnault Kasa, who has completed his probation year, said: “I just feel devalued and now I’m contemplating leaving the profession altogether.”
Another new teacher, who asked not to be named, was told two days before the end of term there is no post available despite a successful interview in March.
They added: “I am heartbroken after giving my all to a school, class and families for the past year through a pandemic.
“This has knocked me back from the possibility of applying for a mortgage which I have spent the last two years saving for.”
Rennie called on new Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville to intervene immediately.
He said: “Unemployed teachers have been left in a dire position because of incompetent planning by the Scottish Government and Fife Council.
“Despite election promises from the SNP, there are not enough teaching jobs available for the thousands of teachers who have endured extensive training.
“These teachers have been let down by the authorities who encouraged them to join the profession.”
Fife Council admitted that falling primary school rolls in the county means demand for teaching roles has outstripped the number available.
It added: “In an effort to support current staff employed in temporary contracts, as well as our 2020-21 probationers, we took the decision to advertise our primary posts internally only.
“We anticipated a large number of candidates would be seeking employment and that our number of vacancies would be more limited than previous years.”
The Record has asked the Scottish Government for comment.