Secondary school teachers could take industrial action unless “excessive” workload caused by Scotland’s new exam system is reduced in the next few months.
The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) trade union said they had approved an industrial action ballot, which will be held if the newly established Scottish Government Review Group “fails to deliver a workable agreement on meaningful workload reductions.”
Dundee EIS secretary David Baxter said the changes would need to start by June and be in place by the next school year.
He explained: “There was an indicative ballot held just before Christmas which showed that teachers are prepared to go out on industrial action if workload demands caused by the new qualifications are not reduced.
“The workload demands are not just on the teachers but on pupils as well.
“With the new exams, there are at least three end of year assessments where you have to get above a certain score, as well as practical work such as science experiments.
“That’s just for one subject, so when you multiply it to cover all subjects you end up with hot spots in the year when pupils are doing assessment after assessment.
“The changes need to be finalised when the next school year starts, but they need to start before the summer holidays so that there is time to implement them.
“It’s a very short time frame but there is quite a strong feeling in Dundee that things need to change.”
A total of 93% of EIS union members from across Scotland who took part in the indicative ballot supported 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 tasks
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.
Dundee City Council education convener Stewart Hunter said: “I respect the fact that teachers are very dedicated professionals and would not want to take any industrial action unless absolutely necessary.”
A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: “We are committed to freeing up our teachers to teach, for the benefit of all in our education system.
“That is why we set up a group to look at what could be done to fully embed our new National Qualifications as part of our Curriculum for Excellence. Industrial action would not be in the interests of anyone.”