Teachers to be offered early retirement in bid to cut costs

Published on Thursday 5 November 2009 08:52

TEACHERS in the Capital would be given the chance to take early retirement under plans being drawn up to save money.

The early release scheme, which is currently being investigated by city leaders, could help to ease the council's huge budget pressures, as well as opening the door to newly-qualified teachers struggling to find permanent posts.

Although the proposals are in the early stages, education leader Marilyne MacLaren will be contacting the Scottish Government to ask for financial support to help roll out the scheme.

Councillor MacLaren said: "We are currently working up a release scheme that would give teachers the opportunity to leave their post earlier if they want to. This would ease budget pressures and improve the difficult situation faced by newly-qualified teachers."

The move has been backed by teachers' unions, who welcome the chance to release teachers who are keen to retire.

Recent figures showed that only one in seven newly-qualified teachers has a permanent post, with just half of last year's probationers even managing to find temporary work.

Colin Mackay, the Edinburgh branch secretary of the EIS teachers' union, said the financial incentive – which would most likely be offered to people over 55 – would have to be attractive.

He said: "I think a number of teachers would welcome the opportunity to take early retirement. It's something that we would welcome as an opportunity not only to replace the teaching stock, but also to allow some fairly proud teachers the opportunity to opt out of a very difficult, stressful job.

"If the council are serious about going down this route, the remuneration has to be worthwhile. A years' salary would have to be the buying price at least."

The council needs to make savings of more than 90 million in the next three years. Releasing older, more experienced teachers on a basic salary of around 33,000 would save the council money if they were replaced by newly-qualified teachers on a starting wage of 20,000.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "The employment of teachers is a matter for local authorities. Where necessary some councils may wish to refresh their teacher workforce and we would welcome such programmes if they are shown to work well."