MSP raises concern over lack of teachers moving to Aberdeenshire
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North East MSP Douglas Lumsden has urged First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to give children in Aberdeenshire the same opportunities as elsewhere in Scotland by incentivising more teachers to work in the region.
The MSP’s call comes after Aberdeenshire Council revealed it had only received 25 newly qualified secondary teachers for the new term in August despite requesting 49 to fill the vacancies across its school estate.
At First Minister's Questions, Mr Lumsden, who wrote to Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville earlier this month about concerns, warned the First Minister that pupils across the north-east risk being left behind if she does not address the issue.
Of the 25, the local authority received just two of the 11 newly-qualified maths teachers it needs to recruit while staffing issues also remain in home economics and technical with Banff and Buchan being the worst area affected.
And new figures from the Scottish Government show Aberdeenshire has lost 31 teachers since 2010 from 1300 to 1269.
Education director Laurence Findlay admitted the council is “really struggling” and said other parts of the country have received more new teaching graduates than they need.
At Holyrood, Mr Lumsden, in his question to Ms Sturgeon, said: “Presiding officer, this week it was reported that Aberdeenshire council had requested 49 new secondary school teachers to start in August but have secured only 25.
“First Minister, there is a problem up and down the country in our rural areas in attracting new teachers while other parts of the country have received more new teaching graduates than they need.
“So what steps will your government take to help rural authorities attract the new teaching staff that they need to ensure pupils from across the north-east aren’t left behind?”
In her response, the First Minister said it was up to teachers where they wanted to work.
She said: “We will continue to work with local authorities to ensure teacher recruitment is supported.
“Ultimately it is a decision for teachers where they decide to work – no minister can dictate this.”
Mr Lumsden later said: “Nicola Sturgeon’s woeful response highlights that she doesn’t care about our young people across the north-east.
“It’s absolutely shameful she is washing her hands of any responsibility for addressing the teacher shortage in Aberdeenshire.
“Lack of Scottish Government intervention means rural pupils in the north-east are being left behind, compared to those in urban locations – and that is unacceptable.
“The SNP need to take action to stop this decline so every child in Scotland has the same educational opportunities, regardless of where they live.”
