Edward Mountain criticises government on “short-changing” probationary teachers requests.

Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP for Highlands and Islands, Edward Mountain, has criticised the SNP-Green government for “short-changing” local authorities in relation to requests for probationary teachers.

A response by SNP education secretary Jenny Gilruth to Scottish Conservative shadow education secretary Liam Kerr MSP reveals that in May 2023, Scotland’s 32 councils received a total of 3,161 probationary teachers.

However, that was 657 fewer than councils had asked the SNP-Green government to allocate them.

Edward Mountain says this is typical of SNP-Green government ministers failing to the Highlands with the resources needed to support schools and teachers in the area.

In the Highlands, 108 probationary teachers were requested, but the SNP-Green government allocated only the Highland Council 78.

Edward Mountain says this is “further evidence” of how the SNP are failing to hire the number of teachers required in schools in the Highlands and even when there is an over-reliance on temporary teachers, they are still failing to provide enough.

Edward Mountain has urged the SNP-Green government to urgently lay out a plan to deliver more permanent teaching posts in the Highlands in the meantime, ensure that the shortfall of temporary teachers is addressed.

Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP, Edward Mountain, said: “Yet again, the SNP-Green government are short-changing the Highlands.

“Despite requesting 108 probationary teachers, the SNP-Green government allocated them only 78.

“This is all too typical of SNP-Green ministers failing to give the Highlands the resources they need to support schools in our communities.

“It is further evidence of them failing to hire enough teachers and, even when they continue to over-rely on probationary teachers, they cannot provide enough teachers for the Highlands.

“This has a harmful effect on our pupils and the teachers already employed in schools in the Highlands.

“We need to see ministers lay out an urgent plan for how schools will be fully supported in light of this shortfall and how more permanent teaching posts will be created.”

ENDS