Scotland’s biggest teaching union has published a manifesto of priorities for the council elections in May.
The EIS calls for a “significant increase in teacher numbers” and for assurances that the promised reduction of class-contact time from 22.5 to 21 hours a week will be in place for the next school year.
The union wants council election candidates to commit to “fair and transparent recruitment policies for supply, newly qualified and recently qualified teachers”.
In the manifesto, published today, EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan warns that the council elections on Thursday 5 May mark a “crucial time for Scottish education”, as schools attempt to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.
The EIS education manifesto: More teachers and reduced workload
The list of demands includes:
- An “early positive settlement” of the 10 per cent pay claim for 2022-23.
- Early implementation of the promised reduction in class-contact time to 21 hours a week, with an ultimate aim of 20 hours.
- A reduction in class sizes, with an ultimate target of a maximum of 20 pupils.
- “Stronger efforts towards achieving greater racial and ethnic diversity within the teaching profession: appropriate support for BAME [black, Asian and/or minority ethnic] students and probationers, fully inclusive recruitment practices and commitment to the retention of BAME teachers”
- Rejection of workplace parking levies.
- Investment in improve Covid health and safety measures and a commitment to maintain improvements around ventilation and cleaning practices.
- “Decisive action” on teacher workload, including the hiring of enough administrative and technical staff.
- An end to Scottish National Standardised Assessments (SNSAs).
- An end to cuts in the numbers of qualified teachers in the early years sector.
- More play-based pedagogy in nursery and early primary.
- More specialist additional support needs staff in both ASN settings and mainstream schools.
- “Urgent enhancement” of ASN specialist support amid the “rising numbers of children and young people who are struggling with their mental health”.
- “Coherent adoption of trauma-informed practice” in the ASN sector.
Mr Flanagan said: “The EIS supports better funding for councils to deliver their education ambitions, but equally we believe that councils could and should be doing much more to address key issues such as the scandal of 10 per cent of teachers being on temporary contracts, the dearth of support for additional support needs and the need to remove unnecessary bureaucratic paper trails which simply add to workload.”
He added: “The EIS manifesto calls for increased investment and enhanced support for schools, teachers and students to support the vital process of education recovery following the Covid pandemic.
“The EIS is challenging all political parties and all election candidates to make clear commitments to providing improved support for Scottish education.”
Mr Flanagan said: “There is a very clear and urgent need to address shortages within the teacher workforce to support education recovery.
“This must include the employment of additional teachers, on permanent and secure contracts.”
Read the full EIS manifesto here.
