Teacher crisis hits English and mathematics
Ministerial targets for specialist subjects are missed
SCOTLAND is facing a teacher recruitment crisis in mathematics and English.
Figures show suitable applicants for teacher training places in both subjects in 2016 were well below target, according to Scottish Government records.
The target for English teachers in 2016 was 194, but only 163 were recruited, while in maths 128 entered training compared to a target of 179.
There were also shortages in home economics, computing, technological education and religious education.
Seamus Searson, general secretary of the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association, said the number of places fell well short of what was required.
He said: “The number of places allocated were conservative figures not taking into any account of the real vacancies and those choosing to leave the profession before retirement.
“To try and anticipate this, 400 more places have been sought for 2017, but the major difficulty is enticing people to join the courses.
“Increasing workload, larger classes, less preparation time and excessive bureaucracy, as well as a lack of career progression and poor levels of pay, will not help this situation.”
Larry Flanagan, general secretary of the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), called for widespread challenges in teacher recruitment to be addressed.
He said: “Given that English and maths are core subjects for all pupils throughout their school careers, coupled with the key focus on enhancing achievement in literacy and numeracy at all stages, these figures give significant cause for concern.
“The reality is additional steps will require to be taken to encourage more people to come into teaching, including more action to cut the excessive workload demands placed on teachers, enhancing the professional standing of teachers and a commitment to improving salary levels.”
Meanwhile, the University and College Union attacked moves by Edinburgh University to axe a primary school teaching degree.
It said the move to close the fouryear undergraduate degree course meant students would only be able to train to be a primary school teacher after completing another degree followed by a postgraduate qualification.
However, the university said the move to postgraduate level was in line with other major international schools of education.
A spokeswoman said: “As a result of this refocus, some of our undergraduate programmes will be closing, but we will continue to offer specialist undergraduate qualifications in teacher education.”
‘‘ Given that English and maths are core subjects for all pupils... these figures give significant cause for concern
BRAVE film fans braved temperatures of -5C to watch a special screening of John Carpenter’s chiller The Thing at Snow Factor, Scotland’s only indoor real snow ski slope. The sold-out Glasgow Film Festival audience watched the film on an inflatable big screen, complete with huskies and an ice bar. The 1982 American sci-fi horror film stars Kurt Russell and is about an extraterrestrial that infiltrates an Antarctic research station. Picture: Ingrid Mur