Universities in Scotland have been given permission to exceed their recruitment targets for student primary teachers, despite a shortage of jobs in the sector. This decision comes as newly qualified teachers are struggling to find permanent positions, with only 16.6% securing a job in the September after completing their qualifications.
The Scottish Government has aimed to reduce recruitment targets by up to 20% for the next two years in response to the job shortages. However, due to financial struggles faced by universities as a result of funding cuts and inflation, they have been given the go-ahead to over-recruit for the PGDE (Professional Graduate Diploma in Education).
According to a Freedom of Information request from Scottish Teachers for Permanence, universities will not face any consequences for exceeding the set targets. The target for 2023-24 was 955 student primary teachers, but the actual number recruited was 1,803.
Scottish Teachers for Permanence expressed concerns about universities prioritizing funding from ITE places over the actual workforce needs. They believe that this practice has created a challenging job market for qualified teachers, especially in light of local authority budget cuts.
In response, a Scottish Government spokesperson emphasized their commitment to maximizing teaching job opportunities. They have allocated £145.5 million to local authorities to help maintain teacher numbers and support the recruitment of more teachers. Last year, the intake targets for primary PGDE were reduced by 200 to address the challenges faced by primary teachers in securing permanent contracts.
Despite the reduction in targets, a small number of additional students (12) were over-recruited for the 2023 academic year. The government is currently reviewing advice on the allocation of places to ITE providers for the upcoming academic year to ensure a balance between student intake and job opportunities for teachers.
