Green MSP alarmed by teacher conditions report
Research carried out by academics at Bath Spa University, showing that half of teachers could leave in the next 18 months, should “set off alarm bells across the Scottish Government” says a Green MSP.
Ross Greer MSP, the party’s education spokesperson, says the research shows teachers already have too many administrative functions and not enough preparation time and support.
Greer, a West of Scotland MSP, said:
“That almost half of all teachers in Scotland might leave their jobs over the next year and a half should set off alarm bells across the Scottish Government. It is time the SNP stops pretending that a decade of budget cuts, which have cost over four thousand teachers and thousands of specialist and support staff, have done no damage. Remaining staff have been left with unmanageable workloads and an ever more complicated curriculum and administrative system.
“Instead of dealing with this problem, the SNP is instead pursuing governance reforms which were not asked for, which are near universally opposed and which do not actually solve any of the most pressing problems in our schools. This research shows teachers already have too many administrative functions and not enough preparation time and support. Taking responsibilities away from local councils and giving it to schools will only increase the pressure on teachers, who are already at breaking point. Only by reversing the budget and staff cuts will we see a significant improvement in teacher working conditions.”