Chamber and committees

For those of us who have been calling for that review and who are working with the steering group, it is important that we have had that broad offer put forward. Some of it will be very challenging, but in its next session, Parliament will have to pick up that work in order to make our university sector sustainable. What comes out of that, and ensuring that the unions have, collectively, had their voices heard in the process, is important.

That is all from me, convener.

The Government’s own analysis shows that most newly qualified teachers in Scotland are no longer getting permanent jobs: 2,294 newly qualified teachers completed their probation, but only 25 per cent of them have secured permanent posts. The Educational Institute of Scotland’s general secretary, Andrea Bradley, says that the figures that have been released

“confirm that the Scottish Government has absolutely failed in the delivery of their 2021 manifesto commitment”.

After 19 years of this Scottish National Party Government, why have ministers spectacularly failed in their workforce planning and in the pledge that they made to parents, professionals and young people? What does the First Minister say to young, qualified teachers in Scotland who are considering leaving our country because of this Government’s disastrous education workforce planning?

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to address the reported issues with teacher job shortages, caused by temporary teacher contracts. (S6F-04602)

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to address the reported issues with teacher job shortages, caused by temporary teacher contracts. (S6F-04602)

The Government’s own analysis shows that most newly qualified teachers in Scotland are no longer getting permanent jobs: 2,294 newly qualified teachers completed their probation, but only 25 per cent of them have secured permanent posts. The Educational Institute of Scotland’s general secretary, Andrea Bradley, says that the figures that have been released

“confirm that the Scottish Government has absolutely failed in the delivery of their 2021 manifesto commitment”.

After 19 years of this Scottish National Party Government, why have ministers spectacularly failed in their workforce planning and in the pledge that they made to parents, professionals and young people? What does the First Minister say to young, qualified teachers in Scotland who are considering leaving our country because of this Government’s disastrous education workforce planning?

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to address the reported issues with teacher job shortages, caused by temporary teacher contracts. (S6F-04602)

The Government’s own analysis shows that most newly qualified teachers in Scotland are no longer getting permanent jobs: 2,294 newly qualified teachers completed their probation, but only 25 per cent of them have secured permanent posts. The Educational Institute of Scotland’s general secretary, Andrea Bradley, says that the figures that have been released

“confirm that the Scottish Government has absolutely failed in the delivery of their 2021 manifesto commitment”.

After 19 years of this Scottish National Party Government, why have ministers spectacularly failed in their workforce planning and in the pledge that they made to parents, professionals and young people? What does the First Minister say to young, qualified teachers in Scotland who are considering leaving our country because of this Government’s disastrous education workforce planning?

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to address the reported issues with teacher job shortages, caused by temporary teacher contracts. (S6F-04602)

The Government’s own analysis shows that most newly qualified teachers in Scotland are no longer getting permanent jobs: 2,294 newly qualified teachers completed their probation, but only 25 per cent of them have secured permanent posts. The Educational Institute of Scotland’s general secretary, Andrea Bradley, says that the figures that have been released

“confirm that the Scottish Government has absolutely failed in the delivery of their 2021 manifesto commitment”.

After 19 years of this Scottish National Party Government, why have ministers spectacularly failed in their workforce planning and in the pledge that they made to parents, professionals and young people? What does the First Minister say to young, qualified teachers in Scotland who are considering leaving our country because of this Government’s disastrous education workforce planning?

Ministers expect the plan to be published in autumn, which is quite a long time away for institutions that have been engaging with other financial opportunities. If I remember rightly, Dundee and Angus College engaged with levelling up funding and received around £4.5 million, which is basically half of what the Government is putting forward for the whole capital budget. Those projects are at risk unless Government works with different institutions to progress at more pace opportunities to move those projects forward.

I have raised previously with the minister the mutual investment model, which would help bring more money into the sector than the Government is providing. Has the Government looked with the SFC at other potential opportunities? The college sector waiting for significant capital from the Government will not resolve the reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete issue. It needs to be a much wider piece of work, which I do not think the Government has done any work on. I am concerned that any plan is being kicked into autumn, and that it will take years for financial support for institutions to be put in place.