A Scottish Conservative plan to incentivise the recruitment of teachers in rural areas would benefit schools across the Moray area, local politicians have said.
Under the party’s plans unveiled this week, £30million would be set aside for a Rural Teachers Fund to tackle shortages of staff across the country.
Early career support would also be given to them and a scheme would be created to allow prospective teachers to study qualifications in their home communities.
The proposal is part of a wider plan for schools from the Scottish Conservatives that includes the recruitment of 3,000 more teachers nationwide to help reverse cuts under the SNP.
According to the Scottish Government’s own statistics, there were 51 fewer teachers in the Moray Council area in 2019 compared to 2010.
Scottish Conservative MP for Moray Douglas Ross said:
“We know there have been huge challenges in recruiting and retaining teachers in rural parts of the North-east and Highlands.
“Rural and remote areas have long suffered from acute teaching shortages, and the SNP has failed to address the problem.
“Our Rural Teachers Plan would include the offer of targeted incentives for staff to work in rural areas and extra support once they are in post.
“The Scottish Conservatives want every pupil to have the same opportunities – no matter which postcode they live in.
“And I want to make sure that every school in Moray is as well-equipped as it can be to offer the best standard of education possible.”
Scottish Conservative MSP candidate for Moray and local council group leader Tim Eagle said:
“According to the SNP government’s own figures, there were 51 fewer teachers in Moray in 2019 than there were in 2010.
“The SNP have had 13 years in power so has no-one else to blame for a failure to fill teaching posts.
“The Scottish Conservatives have a plan to address this problem, which affects communities across Moray and in other rural areas of the country.
“No-one should be disadvantaged because of where they live.
“Along with our proposals to improve school buildings, this Rural Teachers Plan will help to restore Scotland’s education system and level up opportunity for young people in Moray and across the country.”