Moray SNP News

MORAY MSP PROPOSES 5 POINT PLAN TO TACKLE TEACHER SHORTAGES

Richard Lochhead today [Monday 9 February] met with The Moray Council’s Chief Executive, Roddy Burns, and the Director of Education, Laurence Findlay, to discuss teacher vacancies in Moray.

Mr Lochhead made a number of proposals which led to agreement of the following five point plan to aid the recruitment of more teachers to Moray:

1. Explore whether more teaching training places can be offered in Moray, and whether the Scottish Government can intervene through use of the preferential waivers for newly qualified teachers
2. Incentives could be offered to those who relocate to take up a teaching posts in Moray
3. Establish a public relations campaign to promote Moray
4. Council  to show that education is a priority and is valued
5. Through workforce planning, ensure there are opportunities for a career path and promotion in Moray

Mr Lochhead was pleased with the positive discussions and welcomed assurances from the Council that action on some of these proposals is already underway, as well as their commitment to accelerate some of the work which has already begun.  Moray’s MSP and the Council agreed to work together in taking these proposals forward, and Mr Lochhead will now be writing to the Education Secretary on the issue.

Speaking after the meeting Richard Lochhead MSP said:

“I was pleased to have the opportunity to meet with The Moray Council today to discuss the teacher shortages in our schools, to hear what action is already underway and what the next steps should be to help recruit more teachers to Moray. 

“It’s important that progress is made soon to fill these vacancies, as clearly the shortage is also putting additional pressure on our hard working teachers. 

“Our meeting was constructive and filling these vacancies may require some thinking outside the box. Moving forward I will be working with the Council and my SNP Councillor colleagues to progress this action plan.”