The Scottish Government has been urged to step in and prevent the loss of around 40 teachers in Fife as schools face cut budgets.
Consultation began on Monday with staff at the kingdom’s 18 secondary schools.
Head teachers have been told to find savings of around £1.28 million this year and it is anticipated there will be a further £1m reduction next year.
Around 20 promoted posts are expected to be scrapped this year, with the same again after the February 2019 budget is set.
North East Fife MSP Willie Rennie urged Education Secretary John Swinney to reverse what he described as “brutal” cuts.
He said: “It is the SNP Government’s decision to slash council budgets that has led to this whopping cut to school budgets.
“The SNP claim that education is their top priority, but the evidence suggests otherwise.
“Taking away more than £1.2m from Fife secondary schools is in no way prioritising the education of our young people.
“If John Swinney is true to his word he will step in to prevent the cuts to teachers and the inevitable adverse impact on education in Fife.”
The area’s MP Stephen Gethins said he had asked Finance Secretary Derek Mackay if the Scottish Government could further soften the impact of austerity on local councils and schools most affected.
He said: “It is easy to blame Fife Council and the Scottish Government who are having to mitigate these cuts.
“Responsibility, however, lies firmly with the Tory government at Westminster and their obsession with austerity to the detriment of all public services.”
Fife branch spokesman for the EIS union, David Farmer, warned that a vote for strike action saw similar proposals elsewhere in Scotland withdrawn.
He said some Fife schools needed to save almost £250,000 and added: “Fife EIS is opposed to this cut.
“If it is carried out it will impact on workload for staff in school.
“It will impact on future promotion and development of all staff.
“Furthermore, the workload associated with these posts will most definitely not disappear, meaning that the workload of staff still in posts will increase.
“We also worry about the continuing viability of certain subjects and courses in Fife secondary schools.
“This might well impact on choice for students and for certain students impede their ability to achieve in areas where they are gifted.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Local government funding to schools is increasing and Fife Council is receiving its fair share of this, amounting to over £674 million.
“Together with the decision to increase its council tax by 3%, it has £18.8m more available this year to support day-to-day services such as education.”
