NASUWT comments on Scottish draft budget

17 September 2009

Commenting on the announcement of the Scottish draft budget for 2010-2011 by John Swinney, cabinet secretary for finance and sustainable growth, Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT, the fastest growing teachers' union in Scotland and the largest in the UK, said:

"NASUWT notes that the main focus of today's announcement is on improving training and skills.

"The increased investment of £10 million of capital funding in school estates will allow for the rolling programme of new building and refurbishment to be continued, creating safe and healthy workplaces for teachers and pupils alike."

Jane Peckham, NASUWT Scotland Organiser, said:

"To cut spending in Initial Teacher Training for the short term will alleviate some of the current difficulties trained teachers have in finding employment, however we would urge a note of caution.

In order to achieve a reduction in class sizes to anywhere near government targets, teacher workforce planning will need to be carefully monitored to ensure enough suitably trained teachers exist to cover the increase in classes that will result from reduced class sizes.

"It is, on the whole, a reasonable financial plan given the current recession but assurances need to be sought from local authorities that they will spend the money where it is intended."