Scottish Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth made the new plans official today. She’s looking to reduce teachers’ class contact time in order to address workload issues. The proposal would lower the existing 22.5 hours of contact time to 21 hours per week. It would give educators an additional 1.5 hours of prep time and work on grading student assessments. This latest move fulfills the Scottish National Party’s (SNP) 2021 manifesto commitment.
The Scottish government intends to implement nationally agreed minimum standards on pupil learning hours, which could facilitate changes such as later start times, extended breaks, or a restructured school day. In response to Gilruth, she explained that lessening contact time would not necessarily mean changes in total hours of school.
At present, teachers in Scottish state schools are currently on a contracted 35-hour week. The suggested cut in class contact time is welcomed as a way of relieving the workload on teachers. Simultaneously, it aims to improve the quality of education students receive. That’s the intentional approach Gilruth was clearly glad to hear about, as he put it,
“It is a statement of intent to empower Scotland’s teachers with the time, trust, and tools they need to deliver transformative learning.” – Jenny Gilruth
She hoped to see the government invest in more teacher capacity. This investment is intended to deepen learning experiences and raise expectations for all learners at every stage of their development.
Even as these discussions on this specific proposal continue, big picture, education unions have been running impressive campaigns among their members leading up to any possible strike action. Within trade unions for educators, the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) is a notable exception. Beyond that, they have led the charge on demanding a decrease in in-class contact hours. They have been urging their members to vote on whether or not to pursue strikes, with results being tallied later this week.
According to senior union leaders, if the strike ballot is timed right, it could be threatened and thus used as leverage against government ministers. This strategy becomes especially significant with the Holyrood election on the horizon. The union stated,
“Over the past four years, EIS negotiators have worked tirelessly in their attempts to push both (council umbrella body) Cosla and the Scottish government to make progress on the reduction in class contact time.” – The union (EIS)
For a strike ballot to count, more than half of their eligible voters must take part. At least 40% of those eligible to vote have to be in favor of the strike action. This threshold guarantees that any decision made always represents the will of the vast majority of the teaching workforce. Most importantly, it empowers the educators to amplify their voices.
The Scottish government’s commitment to addressing teachers’ workload concerns comes at a time when many educators feel overwhelmed by their responsibilities. By proposing a reduction in class contact time, officials aim to demonstrate their dedication to improving working conditions while enhancing the educational framework for students across Scotland.
