A teacher shortage in Aberdeen is leaving teachers at breaking point, according to local authoritesScotland’s leading education union has warned that teachers in Aberdeen schools are at breaking point over recruitment problems and soaring workloads.
Recruiting teachers is a “particular challenge” in the city said the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), where house prices are up to 18% higher than the average in Scotland.
Supply staff shortages have forced senior staff to take on regular teaching roles, Aberdeen’s EIS local association local security Heather Collie has said
Ms Collie said: “There is a serious staffing situation in Aberdeen. A combination of fewer new teachers coming into the profession coupled with teachers choosing to retire and not wanting to return to do supply work has meant that staffing has become an issue.
“Although this is a picture across Scotland, in Aberdeen the situation is particularly bad. Despite a variety of attempts by the city council to attract teachers, there are still currently a significant amount of vacancies in Aberdeen schools.
“In addition, there are almost no supply staff available to cover for staff who are ill or required to be out of school for any reason. The high cost of living in Aberdeen makes it difficult to attract teachers to the area.
“Teachers are experiencing significant workload pressures and are all working extremely hard to continue to provide high quality educational experiences for young people.
The EIS added a drop in real-terms pay has made it increasingly difficult to entice graduates to become teachers.
An EIS spokeswoman added: “Teacher recruitment is an issue across the whole of Scotland and is a particular challenge in certain parts of the country, such as the north east.
“In an environment where real-terms pay has declined significantly, coupled with soaring workload pressure and cuts to the education service, it is increasingly difficult to attract graduates.”
