Teachers from the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) union take part in a rally outside the Tramway in Glasgow on day two of the strike action in a dispute over pay, March 1, 2023
ALMOST seven in 10 Scottish teachers are dipping into their own pockets to buy materials and support pupils as funding cuts continue to bite, an Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) poll has found.
The survey of 16,475 members found that of those teachers subsidising the school day, more than half said they were cutting back because they no longer could afford it.
And it found that more than half of respondents felt stressed frequently and a staggering 98 per cent frequently worked over their contracted hours, 41 per cent working more than eight extra unpaid hours a week.
With 12,000 fewer teachers since 2010 and dwindling resources, Scotland’s schools desperately need investment to support diverse learners rather than empty promises from politicians, writes ANDREA BRADLEY
With 170,000 children living in poverty in north-east England and teachers leaving in droves over 20 per cent real-terms pay cuts since 2010, all while private companies siphon off billions, it is time to unite and fight for education, writes MATT WRACK