PRESS RELEASE

October 31st, 2008

‘Must do better’ says MSP on teacher crisis

Greenock and Inverclyde MSP Duncan McNeil has called on the Scottish Government to take stronger action to solve the area’s probationary teacher crisis.

Mr McNeil recently discovered that 120 would-be teachers applied for just seven available jobs in Inverclyde – leaving the remainder with an uncertain future.

The Scottish Government recognised the crisis this week by announcing new measures to manage the problem.

But the Greenock MSP believes they must do more to help those being left out.

In Parliament, Duncan McNeil told Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop that those numbers represent a ‘significant waste of talent’.

The MSP pointed out the habit of relying on a significant number of retired teachers on the supply list and a lack of training opportunities as key areas the Scottish Government could improve

But he insisted that investment by Scottish Government has to be made to bring down class sizes to create jobs for the teachers currently out of work.

Mr McNeil said: “The number of new qualified teachers out of work is shameful.

“I have met with many of these teachers who are very enthusiastic and want to help in the education of our children but are being denied that opportunity.

“Many of them will be getting up in the morning and get dressed for work in the hope the phone will ring with a supply job.

“The Scottish Government talks about lowering expectations about employment prospects – I think the fact that they are 120 people going for seven jobs in Inverclyde alone has already achieved that.

“There are measures that the Scottish Government could take in the short term, like issuing clear guidance that retired teachers only be used only in very exceptional circumstances, ensuring more opportunities for newly-qualified teachers.

“It is also unacceptable that they are excluded from ongoing teacher training, and the minister has to take steps to maintain and enhance their skills.

“The reality now is that temporary work is becoming increasing important.

“But ultimately this government has to make the significant investment to cut class sizes as promised and put those unemployed teachers back into classrooms where they belong.”

ENDS