Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott MSP challenged the First Minister to explain why the SNP is cutting the number of teacher training placements.
The Education Secretary let this slip during today's Liberal Democrat-led debate on the SNP's failures in education.
Despite a Scottish Funding Council circular issued in March this year with a target of nine per cent more places, Fiona Hyslop admitted that the SNP would be cutting the number by four per cent.
Commenting, Mr Scott said:
"Under pressure from the Liberal Democrats this morning, the Education Secretary admitted that the Government's plans for teacher training are changing.
"Instead of the nine per cent increase in training places announced only on the 3 March there will now be a cut of four per cent.
"Against the backdrop of a fall in the number of teachers in Scotland since the SNP took power and desperate economic circumstances, to cut future training places is clearly a wrong-footed idea. We should be investing in our future.
"Every set of Government figures show the SNP is failing to get it right on education. Scotland's children deserve better."
Ends.
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