Smith: It's time for a fresh Minister not fresh excuses (North Tayside Liberal Democrats)

North Tayside Liberal Democrats <info@libdems.org.uk>

Smith: It's time for a fresh Minister not fresh excuses

March 24, 2009 3:02 PM
Originally published by Scottish Liberal Democrats

Commenting on official figures showing that teacher numbers have fallen by almost 1,000 inside a year, Liberal Democrat Education spokesperson Margaret Smith MSP said:

"It's time for a fresh Minister, not fresh excuses.

"The Education Secretary was quick to take the credit for extra teachers when she took office. The question now is will she be as quick to take the fall for the plummeting number of teachers in Scotland's schools?

"Her own statistics show she has failed.

"The Education Secretary has presided over a record slump in teacher numbers. Her impact on reducing class sizes has been microscopic.

"In the teeth of the worst ever recession, the reduction in maths and science teachers totally undermines previous calls from the Government for more children to be studying science. It flies in the face of efforts to boost innovation, research and development at a time of world recession."

Ends.