A senior councillor has claimed “adverse publicity in the press” is to blame for a teacher recruitment crisis.
The suggestion came as councillors in Angus locked horns over the issue.
Montrose Lib Dem member David May said it was “really worrying” that so many posts were being advertised in the area.
Primary school shortages stack up to 3.4 full-time equivalent posts while there are 13.6 vacancies in secondary schools.
Mr May’s comments followed an update at Angus Council’s children and learning committee on the staffing situation.
He said: “A few months ago at this committee I highlighted in my view that many Angus schools were in crisis as far as staffing was concerned.
“The situation is now even worse than it was then.
“What makes the position even worse is the fact that after advertising for some posts there were no applicants.”
Committee convener Sheena Welsh laid the blame for the recruitment crisis at the door of the press.
“There’s too much adverse publicity for teaching in general in the press,” she said.
“They keep knocking schools, knocking children and then we wonder why there is a teacher shortage.
“If you are always reading adverse publicity about teaching, do you want to join that profession?
“So I really would beg The Courier, and the other press, to be a little bit more positive in their reporting of what goes on in our school.”
Ms Welsh also accused Mr May of repeating the same thing at every meeting of the committee.
She said: “We are all aware there are teacher vacancies and we are doing our best to fill these vacancies.
“Everything that is possible is being done.”
Arbroath Academy received no applicants for an English post while a similar English teacher job was advertised at Arbroath High School and again received no applicants.
There were no applicants for a recently advertised physics post at Brechin High while Carnoustie High continues to be unsuccessful in securing a computer teacher.
The recruitment issue was raised at the meeting after councillors agreed to a roll cap at Timmergreens primary in Arbroath to 210 pupils — seven below the projected 2017/18 roll.
Whitehills Primary in Forfar was also capped at 427 places while the committee agreed to the removal of caps at Inverbrothock and St Thomas primary schools in Arbroath, as well as Woodlands in Carnoustie.
