Temporary funding that helped recruit 1,400 teachers and 250 support staff during the Covid pandemic has been made permanent by the Scottish government.
Some £80 million was allocated last year to increase the number of teachers in Scotland’s schools but education secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville has said the cash will be added to the annual local authority settlement from April next year.
The idea is that many more teachers should now have a greater sense of security about their jobs.
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There had been concerns expressed about what would happen if the money dried up at the end of the 2021-22 school year.
The extra money is on top of further funding increases announced earlier this month to recruit another 1,000 teachers and 500 support staff, which has also been made permanent.
Ms Somerville said: “Our priority for Covid education recovery is to ensure the highest quality of learning and teaching.
“Our schools have shouldered significant disruption as they tackle the unparalleled challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic.
“This is why it is imperative that we do everything we can to support councils to recruit permanent teachers and support staff.
“This funding will provide local authorities with the certainty they need in order to plan their future permanent workforce requirements.”
£80m of COVID recovery funding to be made permanent allowing councils to offer further permanent contracts to teachers. This is in addition to the £65.5m funding announced last week for 1,000 additional teachers as part of our 100 days commitment. https://t.co/4Yu0bf0EjU
- Shirley-Anne Somerville (@S_A_Somerville) August 18, 2021
Gail Macgregor, resources spokesperson for local authorities body Cosla, welcomed the move but said more would need to be done to address recruitment issues for councils.
“Having the ability to recruit with greater certainty, both teachers and support staff, is a key element of how councils can ensure the delivery of the most effective experience for all,” she said.
Ms Macgregor added: “As I have previously said, we do, however, look forward to continuing to work with government to address broader recruitment and retention needs that councils are facing so that we can continue to deliver the highest all-round quality of education to all.”
