McConnell reveals teachers' pay details

Jack McConnell outlined the deal to MSPs

Scotland's Education Minister, Jack McConnell, has outlined the details of a multi-million-pound pay and conditions package for teachers.

In a statement to the Scottish Parliament, Mr McConnell said the package "heralds a turning point" for the education system.

He told MSPs that the deal, which has been endorsed by 80% of teachers, would deliver pay rises of around 21.5% over three years and allocate more money for new staff.

The minister's statement was broadly welcomed by opposition parties who said the improvements must be delivered without any cuts to the education budget as a whole.

This is the best opportunity we have had in a generation to secure a world class future for Scotland's schools

Education Minister, Jack McConnell

Mr McConnell outlined the timetable for change in the parliament.

He said that a national negotiating structure for teachers' pay would be in place by March this year with local structures following in April 2002.

He also promised to secure a national standard of competency for teachers by March 2001 with implementation beginning the following month.

Mr McConnell said that the executive would launch a national recruitment drive for teachers in April aimed at employing an extra 4,000 by 2006.

Cut red tape

He said an action plan for teacher education would follow by the end of the summer.

Mr McConnell also said reports would be delivered by the middle of the year with recommendations on classroom discipline and devolved school management.

During his speech, the minister promised "to reduce the bureaucracy and administrative burden faced by teachers".

A majority of teachers accepted the deal

"We will set up a Gatekeeper Unit which will co-ordinate all our administrative and informative requests to local authorities and schools and eliminate unnecessary demands and duplication," he said.

He said that the executive would seek to recruit an additional 3,500 administrative and support staff to help cut red tape and boost performance.

Summing up the deal, Mr McConnell said: "This agreement marks a turning point away from the division and conflict and towards a constructive partnership.

"This is the best opportunity we have had in a generation to secure a world class future for Scotland's schools."

Mr McConnell later told BBC Scotland's Holyrood Live programme that the £800m required to fund the changes had been agreed in cabinet and set aside for the new financial year.

But he said that the executive was looking for improvements in teachers' performance in return for the improved pay and conditions.

Broad welcome

The Conservatives and Scottish National Party broadly welcomed his comments.

But both parties asked for assurances that teachers would not be driven from the profession and other areas of the education budget would not be cut to pay for improvements.

SNP education spokesman, Mike Russell, warned that some proposals would drive teachers out of the profession

Mr Russell referred to a headline in The Scotsman newspaper which suggested the minister wanted bad teachers "to go".

Noting the minister's commitment to change the culture of "suspicion, mistrust and entrenchment", he said: "I am sure the minister wants that to happen. I wonder how this contributes to it."