Aberdeen’s struggle to attract teachers has been laid bare by education bosses’ inability to fill a Gaelic teaching post – despite advertising it seven times in seven months.
City council chiefs revealed that the post of Gaelic teacher at Gilcomstoun primary had been repeatedly advertised since April with just one applicant coming forward.
Gaelic is understood to be particularly hard to recruit for as there is a smaller pool of people who can teach the subject compared with other disciplines.
In a response to a freedom of information request, however, the council also revealed that teaching jobs had to be re-advertised 102 times in 2017.
Problems of attracting teachers to the north-east have been well publicised in recent years.
Blame has often been placed on historically high oil and gas wages, leading to a high cost of living that many have found unaffordable.
With the oil and gas downturn and rents reducing, authorities across the country are trying a variety of schemes to attract school staff.
Teaching unions, however, have called for higher pay to make the profession more attractive.
Last week it was revealed that £674,815 was spent on teacher relocation packages in the north-east alone in the last year.
Taxpayer cash used by Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Highland councils was 75% of the Scottish total.
Aberdeen spent £105,674 on 31 packages.
In 2016, the city council approved a five year Gaelic strategy, though there was controversy when then council finance convener Willie Young said the authority would do “as little as possible” to promote the minority language, while obeying Scottish legislation.
Last night Aberdeen Central SNP MSP Kevin Stewart said: “Since 2014 teacher numbers have increased by over 1,000 nationwide.
“The SNP Scottish Government has invested heavily in key worker housing in Aberdeen to attract the brightest and best to work here, but ultimately it is down to the council to incentivise these posts.
“What is completely unhelpful is when in 2016 you have a Labour finance convener stating that he will do “as little as possible” to promote the Gaelic language.”
A council spokesman said: “There are currently two other Gaelic teachers, one an educational support officer, at Gilcomstoun School and a third Gaelic teacher in the nursery.
“We are continuing to explore every possible option to recruit to the vacancy including e-Sgoil and other online resources.”
