Created on: 13 Apr 2018 | Last modified: 14 Apr 2020
The EIS believes its Pay Campaign – Value Education Value Teachers - is as important for parents and pupils, as it is for teachers and we are seeking your support for the campaign.
The EIS believes its Pay Campaign – Value Education Value Teachers - is as important for parents, carers and pupils, as it is for teachers and we are seeking your support for the campaign.
In recent years, teachers and schools have had to deal with significant changes to the curriculum and qualifications, all with added bureaucracy. Workload has gone through the roof.
Despite fewer resources, however, teachers have gone the extra mile to implement these new initiatives whilst maintaining and improving pupils' attainment.
Although workload and expectations of teachers have risen significantly, salary levels have been falling in real terms – a cut of 20% in the last decade.
Why does this matter to you as a parent or carer? Put simply, pay is a critical factor in the recruitment and retention of teachers. The EIS believes that pay erosion, together with excessive workload, is a key factor in the current teacher shortage.
In parts of Scotland we have classes not being taught by subject specialists and some subjects, like Home Economics, disappearing in schools.
Scotland's children and young people need more, not fewer, teachers in their schools. Pay isn't the main reason why people become teachers, but it is important; if we want to recruit the best students, salaries need to be as attractive to them as the alternatives on offer.
We also want to keep the teachers we have but recent surveys show that more are quitting the profession early, creating even more vacancies.
The EIS wants pupils to achieve the best outcomes that they can from their school experience.
We need the teachers to do that. If we do not take action, there will be more stories of headteachers asking parents, carers and students to cover teacher shortages. That isn't acceptable.
If the Government values education, then it must value teachers. That is what our campaign is about. We believe our teachers and our pupils are worth more; we hope you agree.
Help Value Education, Value Teachers!
What you can do