Teacher training promises
Future teachers are being let down by the Scottish Government, before they have even entered the profession. 500 potential teachers will have their funding removed in a shocking U-turn by the Scottish Government.
Student groups are calling upon the Cabinet Secretary to continue funding for the positions that have already been offered to applicants.
The SNP manifesto for 2007 pledged to reduce class sizes, despite this there are 1000 fewer teachers in Scotland than 2007, and up to 20% of Postgraduate teacher training places for 2009/10 might be removed.
Many applicants to the PGDE programme have already been contacted to warn them they may no longer have a place in September.
The number of students at teacher training institutions rose by almost 75% between 2003-4 and 2006-7 with a focus on the 1 year PGDE programme to alleviate the shortage of teachers in Scottish schools.
Gavin Lee, President of Glasgow University Students’ Representative Council said:
“These students have worked so hard, and are very eager to enter the profession. For them, this is a slap in the face. This is another example of this Government devaluing the Scottish Education system.
The Government should honour their responsibility to those who have been offered positions – any reduction in funded places should not affect those expecting to start studying in September.
Over the next four years 25,000 teachers in Scotland will retire-to remove funding for enthusiastic, talented young people wishing to step into their shoes is unbelievably short-sighted.”