A TEACHING union renewed its calls for “full pay restoration” today after a poll of members finds nearly one in seven have been forced to take on a second job to make ends meet.

In its annual survey, 31 per cent of NASUWT members in Scotland reported being very worried about their financial position, compared with 27 per cent last year.

And 72 per cent have had to cut food spending, up from 54 per cent last year, while 37 per cent say they struggled with energy bills, a deterioration from last year’s figure of 28.8 per cent.

The poll found that those financial worries also led to teachers taking on second jobs, not only in tutoring and marking, but in shops, bars and cafes and delivery driving, with the rate doing so rising from 11 to 14 per cent over the last year.

Calling it a “shameful state of affairs,” NASUWT general secretary Matt Wrack said: “We’re asking the Scottish government and Cosla to stop dragging their heels in agreeing the 2025/26 pay award for teachers.

“We need full pay restoration and a long term, sustainable package that allows teachers to focus on the essential work of educating children.

“Right now, we have too many teachers worried about putting food on the table and keeping the lights on.”

NASUWT national official for Scotland Mike Corbett said: “Time is running out to offer teachers basic job security, safety in the classroom, and a salary to match their skills and workload.

“If the Scottish government wants to keep teachers in the profession, they need to do better — and they need to do it now.”

The Scottish government was contacted for comment.