Another drop in teacher numbers across Scotland has left SNP promises on the issue “in tatters” and is “badly letting down our schools”, the Scottish Conservatives have said.
Figures published today have revealed that the number of teachers working in Scotland’s schools has fallen for the ninth year in a row.
This is despite Scottish Government promises to maintain the levels, and a deal between it and local authorities to ensure the statistics don’t drop.
And Scottish Conservative young people spokeswoman Liz Smith said that, with decreasing literacy and numeracy standards in schools north of the border, ministers should be increasing teacher levels, not cutting them.
There are now 50,717 teachers across Scotland, which compares to last year’s figure of 50,814 – a number which was today revised for 2014 to 50,720.
Today’s statistic is 4383 lower than when the SNP came to power in 2007, when there were more than 55,000 teachers working in schools across the country.
The ratio of pupils to teachers has also shown no sign of improvement, with the current rate of 13.7 much worse than in 2008 when it was 12.9.
Scottish Conservative young people spokeswoman Liz Smith MSP said:
“The SNP made a very specific pledge to maintain teacher numbers but, yet again, the published statistics prove those numbers are falling.
“We also know that there are moves within some councils to break the deal between local authorities and the Scottish Government, which was supposed to guarantee teacher numbers would be maintained.
“In other words, the SNP’s promises are in tatters.
“Everyone knows that there are huge pressures on our schools just now.
“Significant curriculum changes and the urgent need to address standards in literacy and numeracy are just two of those pressures.
“That means that there is a demand for more, not fewer, teachers.
“It is very urgent that the SNP addresses this issue of workforce planning which, to date, continues to badly let down our schools.”