Teaching union expresses fears over Fife Council plans

Scotland’s largest teaching union, the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), has warned that Fife Council’s draft austerity budget could have a devastating impact on frontline services.

The EIS said it viewed Fife Council’s draft budget proposals with consternation and feared cuts to the education budget could amount to more than £30 million far more than the council has so far said.

The union fears a combination of proposals to shorten the school week and proposed larger class sizes from 2016-17 will put more pressure on teachers and pupils. It is also concerned that at least 41 secondary school teacher posts in Fife could be lost.

The union said it remained to be seen how primary teachers might be affected, but staff were already expressing concerns.

Fife EIS publicity officer David Farmer told The Courier: “We are concerned about the proposed change to the school day because we are aware that in every Scottish local authority where this has been done this has resulted in teacher job losses, and we don’t see how Fife would be any different.”