Rennie warns of classroom pressures as union ballot for strikes

Responding to the news that the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), the county’s largest teaching union, has today opened a statutory ballot for industrial action over teacher workloads, Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Willie Rennie said:

"Teachers feel badly burned because the SNP made a solemn promise to reduce class contact time but five years on they have done nothing of the sort.

"Reducing the number of hours teachers are actually stood up in front of class would make it easier for teachers to plan lessons, mark papers and undertake professional development. That would be good for both pupils and teachers themselves.

"No one likes strikes taking place but it shows that teachers can only be pushed do far. The Education Secretary must immediately swing into action to ensure that a deal is struck and teachers' concerns over workloads are addressed.

"Scottish Liberal Democrats want to get Scottish education back to its best – expanding pupil support in every school and giving every child the best start in life.

"We're asking every parent, teacher and 16 year old to back Scottish Liberal Democrats on the second peach ballot to deliver change with fairness at its heart."