Teaching situation is at crisis point

Sep 25 2009 by Lisa Boyle

A FURIOUS politician has branded the level of unemployed teachers in Ayrshire a ‘shocking waste of talent’.

Cathy Jamieson MSP is furious after hearing that South Ayrshire Council have closed their supply list. So some out of work teachers will not even be considered for temporary posts.

Earlier this month, the Post revealed that the number of newly qualified teachers in Ayrshire failing to find jobs is at an all time high.

In South Ayrshire, just four from 65 probationary teachers have found permanent full-time work.

And in East Ayrshire, six from 74 are employed.

Ms Jamieson said: “It is clear to me that the SNP government is failing both teachers and pupils.

“I am astonished that with a pledge to reduce class sizes to 18, that across Scotland only one in seven probationer teachers have managed to find full-time employment.

“Here in Ayrshire the matter does seem to have reached crisis point.

“The situation with South Ayrshire Council is unprecedented and quite unacceptable.

“It is a shocking waste of talent to have people who have been through teacher training colleges and completed their probationary years in such a situation.

“They should be in the classroom, not on the dole.”