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Staff Shortage Turns Up Heat on Chemistry Lack of Teachers Affects One School in Five

Posted on: Wednesday, 25 May 2005, 09:00 CDT

SCOTLAND'S worldwide reputation for science is under threat because of a shortage of chemistry teachers.

A new study has revealed one in five Scottish schools has been unable to offer chemistry to some pupils because of a shortage of staff - the latest subject to be hit by problems with staffing levels.

The problem is partly blamed on the strength of the economy, which has seen science graduates pursue the higher salaries offered in industry rather than going into teaching.

The Royal Society of Chemistry, which conducted the review, has now called on the Scottish Executive to take immediate action to address the shortfall by recruiting more chemistry teachers.

The Association for Science Education Scotland also said the time had come for science graduates to be given incentives to enter the teaching profession. Golden hellos of up to pounds-5000 are currently on offer in England.

The survey comes against a backdrop of concern over teacher shortages across a range of subjects.

Last week, it was revealed a shortage of teachers is forcing some schools to cancel maths lessons.

Earlier this year, the Scottish Association of Geography Teachers wrote to MSPs warning that the future of the subject was under threat because of a shortage of specialist teachers. The latest study, of principal teachers of chemistry from more than 400 schools, was conducted by the society to establish the extent of staffing problems in Scotland.

The survey found three in every 10 local authority schools had insufficient chemistry teachers while 81-per cent had experienced problems finding chemistry supply staff.

More than 60-per cent had used non-specialist supply staff to cover chemistry courses.

June Jelly, chairwoman of the Scottish education committee of the society, said the situation would only get worse with 400 chemistry teachers predicted to retire within the next five years.

She called on Peter Peacock, the education minister, to take immediate action to resolve the problem.

"The Bunsen burners in our chemistry laboratories will be snuffed out unless Mr Peacock takes firm action, " she said.

"The executive needs to target the recruitment of chemistry teachers.

"Scotland does some of the best science in the world and has some of the best scientists, but unless we have enough good quality chemistry teachers in our schools today, tomorrow's world class chemists will simply not emerge."

Stuart Farmer, ASES chairman, said that in recent years the economy had been performing well and there were plenty of jobs on offer for pure science graduates in big business.

"In order to address the shortfall it could well be time for the introduction of golden hellos to attract people back into the teaching profession, " he said.

"What is particularly worrying about this survey is the fact that there will continue to be a downward spiral in numbers if pupils in schools today are not being taught chemistry.

"We don't know where the chemistry graduates of the future will come from."

A spokeswoman for the executive said she recognised there was a problem in some local authority areas with supply, but she denied there was an issue with permanent staff.

"Some local authorities manage their supply coverwell, but others are less successful and we are working with councils to ensure best practice is shared, " she said.

"We monitor the numbers leaving the profession and recent figures showed there were only 14 chemistry vacancies across the whole of Scotland.

"On top of that we have 51 probationers due to join the workforce in August.

"The number of chemistry teachers has already increased since 2003 from 946 to 991 last year.

"There is nothing to indicate a shortage at the moment."

Source: Herald, The; Glasgow (UK)

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