UNIONS slammed the “Scottish government’s failure” yesterday after figures showed hundreds of new teachers have fled the profession.
Stats from the General Teaching Council, which regulates the profession in Scotland, reveal that since 2018 a staggering 1,337 educators have left its register within five years of qualifying, and 338 in the last year alone.
The figures were obtained by a freedom of information request by the Lib Dems.
Lib Dem education spokesman Willie Rennie called for “a plan for getting Scottish education moving in the right direction.”
He said: “With industrial disputes becoming a regular occurrence and reports of violence in classrooms, I can understand why teaching is not as attractive a career as it once was.
“Teachers who are just starting out on their careers are feeling demoralised, disillusioned and disincentivised.
“The SNP once claimed they wanted to be judged on their record on education. They certainly aren’t saying that any more.”
The numbers came to light just a day after teaching union, the EIS, urged action to halt spiralling violence in schools which has seen a 45 per cent jump in compensation to injured teachers over the last year.
Calling for a pay boost to curb the flight from teaching, EIS general secretary Andrea Bradley said: “Not enough new teachers are coming into the profession, and increasing numbers of experienced teachers are leaving the profession early.
“While pay is not the only issue that impacts on teacher numbers, it is still an important factor in the recruitment and retention of highly qualified graduates.
“We simply cannot afford not to attract new people into the profession or to lose qualified, experienced teachers to other professions where pay is higher, workload is less and work environments are safer.”
NASUWT Scotland’s Mike Corbett said: “These figures reflect the Scottish government’s failure to make teaching a rewarding, secure and respected profession.
“Overall teacher numbers in Scotland have declined for the last two years in a row.
“Without action to address the real-terms erosion of pay, spiralling workloads and working hours, and growing concerns about pupil behaviour, teaching will continue to be an increasingly unattractive and unsustainable career choice.”
A Scottish government spokesman said: “The current pay deal is the most generous pay deal for teachers since 2001, even surpassing the landmark pay deal of 2018-21.
“The 2024/25 Budget further supports teachers with an investment of £390 million to protect teacher numbers and fund the teacher pay deal.”
