Brian Whittle MSP has welcomed proposals unveiled by the Scottish Conservatives that include plans to recruit 3000 new teachers across Scotland including 215 across Ayrshire over the course of the next Parliament.
The plans, which would cost around £550 million, are intended to end shortages of teachers that have become a growing challenge in recent years.
The party also propose to give every primary school its own dedicated STEM teacher, increase opportunities for people to move into teaching from other careers and a new campaign to encourage the best and brightest to take up teaching.
Brian Whittle MSP said:
“For years the SNP have been asking us to judge them on education but since they’ve been in power, one in every thirty teaching posts have gone, we’ve opted out of international assessments and testing, and the attainment gap hasn’t closed.
Covid has only made the situation worse as pupils have lost months of valuable teaching time. These proposals are practical and achievable steps towards rebuilding Scotland’s education system, returning teacher numbers to where they were before the SNP came to power and driving a new focus on science, technology, engineering and maths.
A good quality education can make all the difference to a child’s future. These proposals can be a first step towards transforming Scotland’s education system and giving our children an education that prepares them for the rest of their lives.”
