Dundee has almost 100 fewer teachers working in its schools than last year, it has been revealed.
Labour’s education spokesman in the city, Councillor Laurie Bidwell, said the figures, revealed in a freedom of information request, show the SNP administration has reneged on the national party’s election manifesto promise to bring stability to teacher numbers across the country.
The 6.6% reduction, he says, will have a negative effect on teaching in Dundee and says it will affect every school in the city.
His claims were dismissed by education convener Liz Fordyce, who called them ”scaremongering” and upsetting for parents and carers.
Mr Bidwell told The Courier: ”This autumn there are 99 fewer teachers working in our schools in the city compared with 2010. In the last 12 months Dundee City Council has the unenviable reputation of being responsible for one of the largest reductions in its teaching workforce compared with the other councils in Scotland.
”Figures contained in a response to a freedom of information request have revealed that the budgeted teacher numbers are 1,393 teachers in 2011/12 compared with 1,492.2 teacher posts in 2010/11.
”The effect of this reduction will be felt in every school in Dundee. This performance is not what the SNP promised at the May 2011 elections to the Scottish Parliament.”
Mr Bidwell said that in their Teachers’ Manifesto in May 2011 the SNP committed to:
Bring stability to teacher numbers by ensuring councils stick to the agreed minimum number of posts. Ensure there are enough posts for every post-probationer and enough additional positions to reduce teacher unemployment
”A reduction of 99 posts is by no stretch of the English language ‘stability’,” Mr Bidwell said. ”You can’t reduce the number of teachers in our schools by 99 posts, or 6.6%, without having a negative effect. Dundee deserves better.”
Councillor Fordyce responded by saying she had one message for Mr Bidwell ”Look at the results.”
”Since I took over as education convener attainment levels have increased over the years,” she said. ”Councillor Bidwell is simply scaremongering and all that does is upset parents and carers of our children.”
Mrs Fordyce pointed out that the administration had reduced the number of non-teaching deputy head posts in the city, bringing Dundee into line with the rest of the country. It had not reduced the number of classroom teachers, she stated.
”I think he’s just being a Labour person trying to scare people into voting for his party and it’s upsetting for the parents of our young people,” she added.