Greer urges Scot Gov to rethink proposal for "fast-track" teaching scheme
Ross Greer MSP, Education spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, today (8 June) urged the Scottish Government to rethink its proposal to launch a "fast-track" teaching scheme which would give unqualified people teaching roles in schools.
The controversial move has prompted an emergency motion condemning the proposal at today's EIS teaching union Annual General Meeting.
The teaching union says parachuting non-qualified people into schools is not a solution to the recruitment challenges being faced.
Ross Greer, Education spokesperson for the Scottish Greens and MSP for West of Scotland, said:
"Teach First is a disastrous model which does nothing to improve the quality of teaching; it only undermines it. The emergency motion at the EIS AGM clearly reflects the level of concern from real teachers.
"We need to recruit more people into teaching, improve the quality of university courses and reverse staff cuts, not adopt a model which throws unqualified people in at the deep end, to the detriment of both them and the young people they are responsible for educating.
"Scottish Ministers need to rethink their approach. They are clutching at straws if they think the way to improve the quality of our education system is to rush graduates into schools on lower pay than properly qualified teachers, undermining high professional standards."