Peter Peacock, Education Minister, stressed the advantages from the agreement of industrial peace in schools and the greater recognition given to teachers so they can do their job properly - “showing just how far we have come since the dark days of the 1980s and 1990s”.
Mr Peacock said: “This Audit Scotland report shows a successful implementation of the agreement with virtually all milestones having been met, all the extra cash having been spent in the ways planned and local authorities saving some pound;6 million per year against original estimates of their share of the costs.”
Addressing the criticisms of lack of adequate performance checks, Mr Peacock commented: “Throughout the process, executive officials have closely monitored the measures which form part of the overall agreement - the extra teachers, extra support staff, new probationer teachers and class contact hours worked.”
He would look at the detailed recommendations Audit Scotland have made.
