Plan for more teachers in our schools
200 new teachers would be fast-tracked through training
Education Secretary John Swinney has unveiled plans for a £1 million drive to recruit more than 200 new teachers.
The proposals include fast-track teacher training for graduates in science, technology, engineering and maths (Stem) subjects, courses for former teachers who want to return to the classroom, and measures to attract unemployed teachers from Ireland.
Under the plans, more joint degrees in teaching and specialist subjects such as physics and chemistry will be offered and more primary teachers trained in specialisms such as numeracy, additional support needs and Stem subjects.
The plans, put forward by the Scottish Council of Deans of Education, will be backed by more than #1 million from the Scottish Government's Attainment Scotland Fund, set up with the aim of narrowing the gap between pupils from poorer and wealthier backgrounds.
Speaking on a visit to Dundee, Deputy First Minister Mr Swinney said the proposals will help tackle teacher shortages but will not undermine the standard of teaching in schools.
He 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.
"These innovative proposals are designed to do just that while, crucially, maintaining the traditionally high standard of teaching in Scotland. We will not change the standard we expect new recruits to attain before they become fully-fledged teachers, but we are determined to broaden the routes into the classroom and speed up the process.
"This is exactly the sort of collaborative approach we need if we are to realise our ambition of achieving excellence and equity in Scottish education, and I am pleased to support it with #1 million from our Attainment Scotland Fund."
Dr Morag Redford, chair of the Scottish Council of Deans of Education, said: The Scottish Council of Deans of Education is delighted that the Scottish Government is funding the development of 11 new routes into teacher education.
"The eight Scottish universities who provide initial teacher education programmes have worked with the Scottish Government to design programmes to offer new ways to enter the profession. The 11 programmes use the expertise in each university to provide a national approach to teacher education."
Ken Muir, chief executive of the General Teaching Council Scotland, said: Flexibility is crucial when trying to attract new people into the teaching profession and to address the issue of teacher shortages.
"As the accrediting body for teacher education programmes in Scotland, GTC Scotland has the important role in ensuring that these new routes maintain and enhance the high standards of teaching and teacher education expected within our graduate teaching profession."