EIS conference

Delegates to the EIS Scottish teachers’ union conference in Dundee last week voted unanimously to hold a ballot on industrial action to protest against cutbacks in education. Teachers have not struck in Scotland for 20 years.

Many councils have cut funding to schools in recent weeks – leading to larger classes, fewer teachers, a shortage of books and equipment and even cuts to some courses.

A recent survey found that almost half of last summer’s new teachers had still not found permanent jobs. Teachers passed a motion banning police officers in schools from disciplining children or charging them with offences.