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| Stressed teachers 'at breaking point', EIS union warns | Stressed teachers 'at breaking point', EIS union warns |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Scotland's teachers "are at breaking point" over increased workloads and the new qualifications, the AGM of their largest union is set to hear. | Scotland's teachers "are at breaking point" over increased workloads and the new qualifications, the AGM of their largest union is set to hear. |
| About 350 EIS members are gathering in Perth for the start of their three-day conference. | About 350 EIS members are gathering in Perth for the start of their three-day conference. |
| Several motions raise the spectre of eventual industrial action if concerns are not addressed. | Several motions raise the spectre of eventual industrial action if concerns are not addressed. |
| The government has announced an additional in-service day for primary teachers. | |
| General secretary Larry Flanagan said there was evidence many teachers were struggling to cope. | General secretary Larry Flanagan said there was evidence many teachers were struggling to cope. |
| Teachers have been critical of the level of support provided to implement the Curriculum for Excellence and introduce new qualifications. | Teachers have been critical of the level of support provided to implement the Curriculum for Excellence and introduce new qualifications. |
| Budget cutting | Budget cutting |
| A recent health and wellbeing survey, commissioned by the EIS, suggested severe workload pressures were placing strain on teachers and leading to increased stress and health problems. | A recent health and wellbeing survey, commissioned by the EIS, suggested severe workload pressures were placing strain on teachers and leading to increased stress and health problems. |
| Mr Flanagan said: "Teachers are becoming increasingly worn out and frustrated. | Mr Flanagan said: "Teachers are becoming increasingly worn out and frustrated. |
| "The message they are sending out is that enough is enough - action is needed now to lighten the load on our teachers." | "The message they are sending out is that enough is enough - action is needed now to lighten the load on our teachers." |
| Mr Flanagan added: "The evidence is that many teachers are increasingly approaching breaking point. | Mr Flanagan added: "The evidence is that many teachers are increasingly approaching breaking point. |
| "They have been driven there by a combination of factors that are out of their control. | "They have been driven there by a combination of factors that are out of their control. |
| "The budget-cutting austerity agenda has reduced both staffing and resource levels in schools, placing increasing pressure on teachers to achieve more with less." | "The budget-cutting austerity agenda has reduced both staffing and resource levels in schools, placing increasing pressure on teachers to achieve more with less." |
| Training day | |
| The Scottish Government has announced that primary teachers are to get an extra in service training day each year. | |
| This follows discussions between the government, unions and parents' groups. | |
| Education minister Alasdair Allan said: "Teachers have been at the forefront of the successes that have been achieved so far. I recognise their work is delivering lasting improvements that will benefit our young people and economy for years to come. | |
| "The Scottish Government takes support for teachers very seriously and that's why, despite considerable financial constraints, an unprecedented range of support has been put in place, including more than £10 million of additional funding since 2012." | |
| He added: "Following discussions with teaching unions, I am pleased to announce an additional in-service day will be available to primary teachers in 2014/15. | |
| "The Scottish Government is committed to working with partners to support teachers and improve the delivery of teaching and learning as much as possible." | |
| Pension changes | Pension changes |
| Other issues due to be discussed by the EIS include child poverty, funding for education, combating discrimination, pay and conditions and pension changes. | |
| This year saw the introduction of the new National 4 and 5 qualifications to replace Standard Grades. | This year saw the introduction of the new National 4 and 5 qualifications to replace Standard Grades. |
| Although the EIS supports the changes themselves, it has expressed serious concerns about the pressure and bureaucracy facing teachers. | Although the EIS supports the changes themselves, it has expressed serious concerns about the pressure and bureaucracy facing teachers. |
| This year's exams are thought to have gone smoothly and students will receive their results in August. | This year's exams are thought to have gone smoothly and students will receive their results in August. |