by BILL HEANEY
The Scottish Government’s refusal to disclose the expected total cost of its plan to reduce class contact time for teachers in West Dunbartonshire schools has met opposition from Labour.
Scottish Labour Shadow Education Secretary Katherine Sangster, pictured right, said: “It has been over five years since the SNP first promised to reduce teachers’ class contact time and we are now a matter of months away from when these changes need to be made.”She added: ““If the Government is serious about finally making good on their commitment to teachers, they must provide clear answers on how many teachers will be needed and how much it will cost.
“Ministers must not withhold this vital information. It is vital they publish it in full if they are to retain the faith of our teaching workforce and the wider public.”
Teacher class contact time in Scotland is currently capped at a maximum of 22.5 hours per week within a 35-hour working week.
Current Regulations (35-Hour Week)
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- Maximum Class Contact: Up to 22.5 hours per week for full-time teachers holding Full Registration.
- Preparation and Correction: Teachers are contractually allotted time for lesson planning, grading, and administrative tasks, though unions note many work additional hours beyond contract limits.
Under an agreement between the Scottish Government, COSLA, and teaching unions like the Educational Institute of Scotland, class contact time will be reduced by 90 minutes per week (lowering the maximum to 21 hours):
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- Primary and Special Schools: The reduction to a 21-hour weekly maximum takes effect in August 2027.
- Secondary Schools: The reduction to a 21-hour weekly maximum takes effect in August 2029.
- Implementation: The policy is scheduled to be fully funded by the Scottish Government to help increase teacher prep time and address workload concerns.
The dispute was called by the Teachers’ Side of the SNCT.
Compiled using AI