MSPs raise doubts over teachers pledge

An SNP MSP has said it is unclear whether promises made to teachers will be delivered on time.

Earlier this year the Scottish Government, councils and teaching unions reached an agreement which should see teachers spending 90 minutes less with pupils every week.

The shift is supposed to allow extra time for professional learning, lesson planning, marking and more.

Under the terms of the deal, the change should be delivered by the start of the next school year in August 2027 for primaries, and by August 2029 for secondaries.

But the Education and Gaelic Committee – headed by the SNP’s Karen Adam – has cast doubt over whether the pledge will be delivered on schedule, and is questioning how the policy will benefit pupils.

A new report from the panel also asks how it will be paid for.

Adam, who represents Banffshire and Buchan Coast, said: “We have questions about the proposals to reduce teachers’ class contact time within the timescales agreed by the Scottish Government, teaching unions and local government.

“The evidence we heard highlighted the significant unresolved challenges that rural and remote communities face with recruiting teachers, alongside challenges related to recruiting teachers in several secondary specialisms. 

“At the current time, it is difficult to understand how these can be resolved in time for the policy to be delivered effectively and on schedule. We would like to hear the cabinet secretary’s views on how achievable the policy is within the planned timescales.”

In its report, the cross-party committee said a shortage of teachers in some areas, and for some subjects, means there are “considerable challenges related to workforce planning in implementing the reduction in class contact time within the planned timescales”.

Calling for greater clarity about the objectives of the policy, the committee said it is unclear how the shift can both reduce teacher workload and give teachers time for additional preparation and learning.

And it has raised questions about what assessment has been made of how the policy will aid pupils, and on how the costs of implementation will be met.

Evidence shared with the committee outlined that spending for the education and skills portfolio is not forecast to meaningfully increase, implying that the cost of this policy will need to be met by existing budgets.

The Scottish Government has said work with Cosla on the costs of putting reduced classroom contact time into place is underway “and will inform the Scottish budget”.