Teachers demand 10% pay rise
Thousands of Scottish teachers have left their jobs in the past year, as the pay dispute between the unions and the government continues to escalate. According to the latest figures from the Scottish government, the number of teachers who quit in 2023 was 4,567, up from 3,895 in 2022 and 3,317 in 2021. This represents a 37.7% increase in teacher resignations over the past three years.
The main reason for the mass exodus of teachers is the ongoing disagreement over their salaries, which the unions claim are among the lowest in Europe. The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), which represents 80% of Scotland’s teachers, has been campaigning for a 10% pay rise for its members, arguing that this is necessary to restore the value of their wages, which have fallen by 24% in real terms since 2008.
The EIS has rejected several offers from the Scottish government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla), the most recent of which was a 5.07% increase for most teachers, with some receiving up to 6.86%. The union described this offer as “cynical” and “insulting”, and said it would not end the pay dispute. The EIS also staged a series of strikes in 2022 and 2023, affecting almost all primary, secondary and additional support needs schools in Scotland.
Impact on education quality
The high turnover of teachers has raised concerns about the quality of education in Scotland, which has been declining in recent years according to international rankings. The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), which measures the performance of 15-year-olds in reading, maths and science, ranked Scotland 23rd out of 79 countries in 2018, down from 19th in 2015 and 11th in 2006.
The Scottish government has acknowledged the challenges facing the education system, and has pledged to invest £1 billion over the next five years to close the attainment gap between the most and least deprived pupils. However, critics have argued that this is not enough to address the underlying issues of teacher recruitment and retention, which are essential for improving the learning outcomes of students.
The Scottish Conservative education spokesman, Jamie Greene, said: “The SNP have presided over a decade of decline in Scottish education, and these figures show the extent of the damage they have done. Teachers are leaving the profession in droves, because they are overworked, underpaid and undervalued by this government. The SNP need to stop ignoring the voice of teachers, and start listening to their legitimate demands for fair pay and better working conditions.”
Possible solutions
The pay dispute between the teachers and the government shows no sign of resolution, as both sides remain adamant on their positions. The EIS has said it will not accept anything less than a 10% pay rise, while the government has said it cannot afford to go beyond the 5.07% offer, which it claims is “generous and progressive”.
Some possible solutions that have been suggested by various stakeholders include:
- Introducing a national pay scale for teachers, instead of the current system of local bargaining, which creates disparities and inconsistencies across different regions.
- Increasing the starting salary for newly qualified teachers, which is currently £35,600 in Scotland, compared to £41,604 in London and £32,157 in the rest of England.
- Providing more incentives and support for teachers to work in rural and remote areas, where there are often shortages of staff and difficulties in attracting and retaining qualified professionals.
- Reducing the workload and bureaucracy for teachers, by simplifying the curriculum and assessment frameworks, and giving them more autonomy and flexibility in their teaching practices.
- Improving the professional development and career progression opportunities for teachers, by offering more training, mentoring and leadership programmes, and recognising and rewarding their achievements and contributions.
These are some of the ideas that have been put forward by various experts, organisations and politicians, but whether they will be implemented or not remains to be seen. The future of Scottish education depends on finding a solution that satisfies both the teachers and the government, and ensures that the students receive the best possible education.
