“Glasgow teachers’ cut will damage children’s future”

The Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association, SSTA has said budget cuts to teachers’ jobs in Glasgow will have a detrimental effect on children’s lives in Scotland.

General Secretary of the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association, Seamus Searson, said this while reacting to the Glasgow council education reform which is calling for the elimination of roughly 450 teaching positions throughout the city over the course of the three-year budget period.

Seamus Searson said: “These cuts are going to damage children not just now but also in the future.

“We definitely need more teachers with definite skills so they are able to give more time to our young people.”

He continued by saying that Covid-19 had an impact on the student’s focus and concentration in class, which made it challenging for teachers in Scotland to carry out their duties effectively during this time.

The General Secretary said post-Covid created a problem with the majority of young people not listening to basic instructions in school and teachers face difficulties in their line of work.

Additionally, he said that teachers are constantly confronting the distraction that is negatively impacting them through the development of mobile phones and gadgets which he said has not gotten necessary support to deal with the situation.

Mr Searson added: “What parents and teachers are facing at this time is less and less time with children and teachers being taken away for the benefit of a financier somewhere.

“Reducing the teachers will have more effect not just for now but in the future, for many of our children will not be able to reach their aspiration as they should do- I really fear for the future.”

In addition, MSP Pam Duncan-Glancy published a statement on X asking Glaswegians and the public to support his call against education cut.

She said: “Cuts to education in Glasgow is risk increasing incidents of violence, make meeting the needs of pupils with ASN more difficult and stretch already over worked staff. Ask your MSP to support my motion and save jobs and services.”

Earlier, Glasgow City Council Spokesperson has said to protesting teachers that: “Officers will continue to have meaningful consultation with trade unions to discuss the challenges and they are aware of the savings required.

“Senior staff have met with headteachers to start the discussions on future staffing models and service reform.

“At every stage we will do everything we can to minimise any impact but in the current financial climate the council must look at every option.

“Officers are looking at several education service reform options as part of a budget that required £108m of savings from council services over the next three years, not including social care.”

Recently, Education in Scotland (EIS) members held a demonstration outside the city chambers after Glasgow city council set its budget in March which included education service reforms.

The protesting teachers were joined by other unions to demand that council rethink its decision on the budget and join them in calling for more funding from the Scottish government.