Staff shortages at Dundee schools have been kept secret from parents and politicians, it has been claimed.
Labour education spokesman Laurie Bidwell said: “Too many of our schools have been experiencing severe staffing shortages during the current school year but this has not been reported to the education committee.
“There has been a collapse in the numbers of potential supply teachers and long delays in making appointments to replace staff leaving or retiring.
“I think that the scale of the staffing problems affecting our schools needs to be acknowledged and credible plans should be brought forward that will really make a difference.”
East End councillor Lesley Brennan said: “I know that in the East End area, parents were concerned at the turn of the year about the slow replacement of teachers at Rowantree Primary School when staff left or went on maternity leave. I think a discussion about staff shortages is long overdue.”
Councillor Georgia Cruickshank said: “We have to ask why the SNP councillors running the council and SNP ministers running the government have not taken action to sort out this staffing crisis in our schools.
“I hope at the meeting on Monday we will be able to ensure that the education committee receives regular reports which will reassure parents and our staff in schools that we are holding the council to account.
“We must improve the recruitment and retention of staff in our schools. That way we should help to safeguard the education of the children in our city.”
Education committee convener Stewart Hunter said: “Firstly, I want to put on record my support and appreciation for all our staff in our schools they have worked tirelessly to ensure that pupils didn’t suffer as a result of staff shortages.
“We have talked on many occasions throughout the school year about the issue of staff shortages. We have mentioned it in committee, in the media, in the education review group, responded to elected members concerns and I personally raised the issue when I met with the chairs of the parent councils earlier in the year. We have never shied away from this issue.
“It is accepted that there is a problem nationally with getting teachers and Dundee has not been immune to this.
“We continue to monitor closely all aspects of recruitment to ensure that we continue to attract the highest calibre staff to work in our schools.”
Mr Hunter also suggested the timing of the Labour opposition’s comments was motivated by the election.
He said: “It is curious that the Labour Group have waited until near the end of the school year before raising their concerns.”