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| Scottish government to intervene to stop council teacher cuts | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Several councils are understood to be considering education cuts to balance their budgets | Several councils are understood to be considering education cuts to balance their budgets |
| Scotland's education secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville is preparing to intervene to stop local councils cutting teacher numbers. | Scotland's education secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville is preparing to intervene to stop local councils cutting teacher numbers. |
| The BBC understands that Ms Somerville is considering options and is likely to announce action within days. | The BBC understands that Ms Somerville is considering options and is likely to announce action within days. |
| She is also expected to prevent the number of school hours being reduced. | She is also expected to prevent the number of school hours being reduced. |
| It follows reports that several local authorities, including SNP-led Glasgow city council, are considering education cuts to balance their budgets. | It follows reports that several local authorities, including SNP-led Glasgow city council, are considering education cuts to balance their budgets. |
| The move is expected to trigger a major row between the Scottish government and councils over funding levels and where power lies. | The move is expected to trigger a major row between the Scottish government and councils over funding levels and where power lies. |
| Scottish teachers begin wave of rolling strikes | Scottish teachers begin wave of rolling strikes |
| School subjects 'could be axed due to cuts' | School subjects 'could be axed due to cuts' |
| Local government body Cosla had expressed "deep concern" over this year's cash allocation from the Scottish government. | Local government body Cosla had expressed "deep concern" over this year's cash allocation from the Scottish government. |
| It has warned of a significant funding gap that would have a "detrimental impact on vital local services" and lead to job cuts. | It has warned of a significant funding gap that would have a "detrimental impact on vital local services" and lead to job cuts. |
| Council tax increases are widely expected when councils set their budgets in the coming weeks. | Council tax increases are widely expected when councils set their budgets in the coming weeks. |
| Ministers have provided some extra cash to councils, but price inflation and recent public sector pay deals have put the Scottish government's finances under pressure. | Ministers have provided some extra cash to councils, but price inflation and recent public sector pay deals have put the Scottish government's finances under pressure. |
| Shirley-Anne Somerville is expected to intervene to stop local councils cutting teacher numbers | Shirley-Anne Somerville is expected to intervene to stop local councils cutting teacher numbers |
| The BBC understands that ministers are concerned that hundreds of teaching jobs could be cut as councils try to make savings. | The BBC understands that ministers are concerned that hundreds of teaching jobs could be cut as councils try to make savings. |
| That would conflict with the SNP's manifesto commitment to increase the number of teachers and classroom assistants in Scotland by at least 3,500 before the next election. | That would conflict with the SNP's manifesto commitment to increase the number of teachers and classroom assistants in Scotland by at least 3,500 before the next election. |
| It could also open up a new front in the current industrial dispute between the teaching unions and their local government employers over pay, which has resulted in a series of strikes. | It could also open up a new front in the current industrial dispute between the teaching unions and their local government employers over pay, which has resulted in a series of strikes. |
| Which teachers in Scotland are striking and when? | Which teachers in Scotland are striking and when? |
| Last year, the Scottish government earmarked £145m to help councils maintain and expand the teaching workforce. | Last year, the Scottish government earmarked £145m to help councils maintain and expand the teaching workforce. |
| Despite that, annual statistics for 2022 published in December showed that the total number of teachers fell by 92 year on year to 54,193. | Despite that, annual statistics for 2022 published in December showed that the total number of teachers fell by 92 year on year to 54,193. |
| Ministers have previously used ring-fencing to protect spending in particular areas. They also have statutory powers to direct education authorities in certain circumstances. | Ministers have previously used ring-fencing to protect spending in particular areas. They also have statutory powers to direct education authorities in certain circumstances. |
| At Holyrood last week, Conservative leader Douglas Ross said he was "deeply worried" about the threat of teacher cuts in Glasgow and elsewhere. | At Holyrood last week, Conservative leader Douglas Ross said he was "deeply worried" about the threat of teacher cuts in Glasgow and elsewhere. |
| When he asked the first minister how many teachers would lose their jobs across Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon did not offer a specific number. | When he asked the first minister how many teachers would lose their jobs across Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon did not offer a specific number. |
| Ms Sturgeon said she respected the "autonomy of democratically elected institutions". | Ms Sturgeon said she respected the "autonomy of democratically elected institutions". |