More than 100 teaching posts remain unfilled in Dundee with the new school year just weeks from starting, figures have revealed
Dundee City Council has one of the highest number of vacancies of anyScottish local authority, with 45 primary posts and 57 secondary posts unfilled.
The local authority has been working hard to fill teacher positions, but the issue has proved a troublesome one for councils across the country.
The scale of the problem became clear last September when it emerged city schools were 27 teachers short.
Since then the matter appears to have worsened significantly with end-of- term retirals likely to be a contributing factor with as many as 103 posts empty at the height of the problem.
The figures were obtained by theLiberal Democrats using Freedom of Information requests.
Labour’s education spokesmanLaurie Bidwell said the figures were “deeply concerning” and said he would be asking questions.
“If it is as grim as this suggests then there will have to be questions put to the convener and director about what is being done,” he said.
“We have apparently had a number of initiatives designed to help us attract additional teachers but it appears that there are still a lot of schools operating with less than the number they should have.
“It is not a good situation for primary children as they could face a change of teacher mid-term, while in secondary schools, particularly when you are prepping for exams, it is vital that you have a specialist teacher.”
In February, the council admitted that it was facing “a challenging time” recruiting full-time teachers.
A lack of qualified supply teachers was also forcing staff at schools to assume dual roles, taking on lessons in subjects in which they had no training.
Parent councils, including at Grove Academy in Broughty Ferry, called for action to address the shortage.
Since then, however, Dundee education convener Stewart Hunter said he has started to see progress being made towards filling full-time posts.
The education convener and vice-convener were unavailable for comment on the new figures yesterday.
Responding to the figures, theScottish Government denied Liberal Democrat claims that it was “failing to get to grips with the problems in thesystem”.
A spokesman said: “The Scottish Government has taken steps to ensure an adequate supply of teachers in Scotland and over the last four years we have increased student teacher intake targets to ensure our schools have the right number of teachers with the right skills.”