This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-38156366
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| EIS teaching union warns over new fast-track teacher plan | EIS teaching union warns over new fast-track teacher plan |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Scotland's biggest teaching union has voiced concern over a proposal to fast-track new teachers into classrooms. | Scotland's biggest teaching union has voiced concern over a proposal to fast-track new teachers into classrooms. |
| Education Secretary John Swinney has made public his "innovative plan" to "broaden" routes into teaching. | Education Secretary John Swinney has made public his "innovative plan" to "broaden" routes into teaching. |
| The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) said there was "much to welcome" in the raft of measures which include enticing former teachers to return. | The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) said there was "much to welcome" in the raft of measures which include enticing former teachers to return. |
| However, it was unhappy at the idea of combining post-graduate learning with the one-year classroom probation. | However, it was unhappy at the idea of combining post-graduate learning with the one-year classroom probation. |
| Mr Swinney believed this particular measure would help to find the right people to teach Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) subjects. | Mr Swinney believed this particular measure would help to find the right people to teach Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) subjects. |
| The Scottish government's Attainment Scotland Fund will pay for the package of proposals, at a cost of £1m. | The Scottish government's Attainment Scotland Fund will pay for the package of proposals, at a cost of £1m. |
| Mr Swinney, who announced the details at the University of Dundee, said: "Teachers are the bedrock of Scotland's education system and I want to ensure we do everything we can to attract talented graduates to a career in teaching. | Mr Swinney, who announced the details at the University of Dundee, said: "Teachers are the bedrock of Scotland's education system and I want to ensure we do everything we can to attract talented graduates to a career in teaching. |
| "The quality of teaching is key to helping pupils achieve and to our aspiration of closing the attainment gap. | "The quality of teaching is key to helping pupils achieve and to our aspiration of closing the attainment gap. |
| "These innovative proposals are designed to do just that while, crucially, maintaining the traditionally high standard of teaching in Scotland." | "These innovative proposals are designed to do just that while, crucially, maintaining the traditionally high standard of teaching in Scotland." |
| 'Highest standards' | 'Highest standards' |
| Mr Swinney is aiming to recruit 200 new teachers into the profession. | Mr Swinney is aiming to recruit 200 new teachers into the profession. |
| General Secretary of the EIS, Larry Flanagan, said his union was behind the teacher recruitment drive but he warned against "short-cuts" which might undermine the "high standards of Scotland's teaching profession". | General Secretary of the EIS, Larry Flanagan, said his union was behind the teacher recruitment drive but he warned against "short-cuts" which might undermine the "high standards of Scotland's teaching profession". |
| He believed the current arrangement whereby post-graduate training is followed by an induction period of a year in the classroom was the right one. | He believed the current arrangement whereby post-graduate training is followed by an induction period of a year in the classroom was the right one. |
| Mr Flanagan said: "A key strength of the Scottish system is an all-graduate teaching profession, coupled with a guaranteed induction year in a school to provide all new teachers with practical experience to complement their theoretical study. | Mr Flanagan said: "A key strength of the Scottish system is an all-graduate teaching profession, coupled with a guaranteed induction year in a school to provide all new teachers with practical experience to complement their theoretical study. |
| "Our consistent view is that one-year of postgraduate training followed by a one-year induction period is the minimum period for any individual to become fully comfortable with both teaching theory and its practical application. | "Our consistent view is that one-year of postgraduate training followed by a one-year induction period is the minimum period for any individual to become fully comfortable with both teaching theory and its practical application. |
| "To suggest moving to a shortened fast-tracking route is inconsistent with the need to maintain and enhance the highest standards." | "To suggest moving to a shortened fast-tracking route is inconsistent with the need to maintain and enhance the highest standards." |
| General secretary of the Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association (SSTA), Seamus Searson, said his biggest concern was keeping current teachers in the profession. | |
| He added: "We cannot rely just on recruiting teachers and not address the issues of teachers pay, career structure and workload. | |
| "It is important that we focus on all the aspects and not just turn on the tap of recruitment when the plug of retention has not been fixed in the bath." | |
| However, the General Teaching Council Scotland - which controls entry into the profession - said it was confident the changes would not lead to a fall in standards. | |
| Its chief executive, Ken Muir, said: "Flexibility is crucial when trying to attract new people into the teaching profession and to address the issue of teacher shortages. GTC Scotland is at the forefront in promoting a wide range of new and innovative routes into teaching for those wishing to join the profession in Scotland." | |
| What are political parties saying? | |
| Responding to Mr Swinney's recruitment proposals, Scottish Labour's education spokesman Iain Gray MSP said that "whatever the merit", £1m was not going to solve "our teacher recruitment crisis". | |
| He added: "The SNP has cut over 4,000 teachers from our schools, and axed hundreds of millions of pounds from the council budgets which fund them." | He added: "The SNP has cut over 4,000 teachers from our schools, and axed hundreds of millions of pounds from the council budgets which fund them." |
| Ross Greer of the Scottish Greens said recruiting more teachers was "essential", but taking on 200 new teachers fell short of what was needed. | Ross Greer of the Scottish Greens said recruiting more teachers was "essential", but taking on 200 new teachers fell short of what was needed. |
| He added: "Investing just 0.13% of the £750m Attainment Fund suggests Scottish ministers haven't yet grasped how important it is to give teachers more time to teach." | He added: "Investing just 0.13% of the £750m Attainment Fund suggests Scottish ministers haven't yet grasped how important it is to give teachers more time to teach." |
| What are the proposals? | What are the proposals? |
| Council workers becoming primary teachers | Council workers becoming primary teachers |
| Former teachers | Former teachers |
| Newly-qualified teachers from Ireland | Newly-qualified teachers from Ireland |
| Primary specialism | Primary specialism |
| Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) subjects | Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) subjects |
| Home Economics | Home Economics |
| Joint degrees with a secondary specialism | Joint degrees with a secondary specialism |