Question reference: S6W-04272
- Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 8 November 2021
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Current status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 15 November 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure an adequate supply of STEM teachers for secondary schools, to address any concerns about current shortages.
Answer
The Scottish Government is offering 150 bursaries of £20,000 for career changers to do teacher training in STEM subjects where the demand for teachers is at its greatest.
A new phase of our teacher recruitment campaign is underway. The recruitment campaign aims to encourage students and career changers to apply for a teacher education course, with a particular focus on STEM subjects.
In addition, since the start of the pandemic we have provided £240m of additional investment, over two financial years (2020-21 and 2021-22), specifically for the recruitment of more education staff.