Tayside teachers have added their voice to calls for industrial action over the “unsustainable” workload caused by Scotland’s new exams.
A total of 93% of EIS union members who took part in a ballot backed taking action, with just 7% against.
Any action would stop short of a strike but would see teachers “working to contract” by boycotting any additional work and assessment related to the new qualifications.
The Courier revealed on Monday that almost half of Perthshire’s teachers who called in sick last year did so because of stress, meaning almost 4,000 teaching days were lost.
Local EIS rep David Baxter believes the ballot result demonstrates the depth of anger and frustration that secondary teachers are experiencing in relation to excessive qualifications workload.
Mr Baxter said: “When talking to EIS members in secondary schools, the demands placed on teachers by the SQA (Scottish Qualifications Authority) are often cited as one of the main reasons that secondary school teachers work over and above their contracted 35 hours.
“Both the trade union side and management side have identified workload pressures, on teachers and students, arising from SQA assessment and verification demands.
“Various submissions have been made to the SQA in support of reducing this burden.
“The EIS ballot is an important first step in saying to the SQA that the workforce, who are crucial to implementing the assessments, now want to see a reduction in the workload that the SQA have generated.”
Almost half (46%) of eligible members took part in the ballot, with 7,175 voting in favour of taking industrial action while 537 were against.
It comes after new National 4 and 5 Qualifications were brought in to replace the old Standard Grade exams last year, with schools given the option to phase in new Higher exams this year.
Union leaders have repeatedly raised concerns about the “huge burden” this places on school staff.
EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan said: “The huge vote in favour of industrial action and the high turnout in the ballot send a very clear message that teachers have had enough.
“Assessment overload, particularly in relation to National 5 and National 6 Unit Assessments and SQA verification procedures, continues to place a huge strain on pupils and teachers alike.
“Action is needed, and quickly, to reduce this unsustainable workload burden.”
The EIS executive committee will consider the result of the ballot early next month.