Fife teachers are using foodbanks, working second jobs and considering leaving the profession for supermarket jobs paying just ’50p per hour less’.
The revelations were made in a member survey by Fife’s branch of the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) teaching union.
Of the 274 teachers who responded more than half – 147 – said they would not recommend a job in teaching.
Six admitted they had used foodbanks due to the cost of living crisis and the vast majority – 233 respondents – said these pressures were affecting their mental health.
Teachers also admitted using less heating and hot water, cutting back on food and other shopping, using up savings and resorting to loans or credit cards.
As a result of the current climate, almost one in five respondents said they planned to leave the profession and almost a third said they would retire earlier than previously planned.
Teachers’ shocking testimonies
Teachers told how the cost of living crisis had affected them personally in the anonymous survey.
One said: “I can’t afford lunch every day so I’m skipping lunches sometimes then eager to leave work early to get home for dinner.
“For the first time in my 30 years of living I had to take out a £5k loan to get by. I can’t deal with it any more.
“I’m better off working down in my local Sainsbury’s as they get 50p less than what I get and less stress.”
Another said: “Each month I am short, and have to use the little amount of my savings and credit cards to pay for things.
“We don’t go on lots of holidays, or do lots of expensive socialising, but with the very little free time I do have (workload is overwhelming) I am having to say no to meeting friends and family because I cannot afford to do so.”
Another commented: “I am a single parent to two teenagers and I now cannot afford any form of holiday for myself or my children.
“At the end of every month after paying bills, petrol and food I have a total of £99 left – that £99 is expected to pay for birthdays, Christmas presents, school uniform.”
Someone else wrote: “I now have a second job to help pay bills. This means it is difficult to give extra unpaid hours at night to my teaching duties.”
And another said: “Had to downsize home due to cost of living. Single parent with no additional income so struggling to afford Christmas.
“Making hard choices about missing own lunches so my daughter can have school lunches.
“Had to take out payday loan to pay for surprise car repairs. Just feeling overwhelmed.”
Someone else commented: “I have no capacity to save at the end of each month. I have taught for over 20 years, I am now a principal teacher but hope to leave the profession asap.”
‘Heartbreaking’ results
Graeme Keir, EIS Fife spokesperson, says he was shocked and heartbroken to read the results of the survey.
He said: “Teachers do such a difficult job and to go home to all that stress and worry of maybe not being able to carry on living in their house or switch on the heating.
“I don’t think it’s in anyone’s interest to have teachers in that situation, or who are hungry from missing meals or tired from a second job.
“We know there are kids and families who are struggling, but it makes you realise the extent of the problem when people in professional jobs are also in that situation.”
The survey was conducted as the EIS continues to strike for a 10% pay rise. Primary schools will close again tomorrow and secondary schools on Wednesday due to industrial action.
Help available
Education spokesperson Councillor Cara Hilton said Fife Council understood the rising cost of living was affected teachers as it was many others.
She said: “This survey highlights the issues many are feeling across the kingdom and although the council is doing as much as we can to help those affected we are happy to discuss what further action can be taken in light of the issues identified here.”
The council is working with organisations including NHS Fife and Fife Voluntary Action to ensure people get the help they need, she said, and has launched a new website to provide access to information and support.
Teachers’ pay ‘best in UK’
The Scottish Government said classroom teachers on the main-grade scale in Scotland are the best paid in the UK but it understands the cost of living crisis was putting a huge strain on households, with Brexit deepening the impact.
A spokesperson referred to almost £3 billion allocated this year to help people, including the Scottish Child Payment and Child Winter Heating Assistance.
He added: “The average classroom teacher’s salary in state schools in Scotland in 2021-22 is estimated to be over £40,000. This is based on 2021 Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers pay data collection.
“The starting salary for a fully qualified teacher in Scotland is the highest in the UK at £33,729.”
Conversation