EIS chief to step down after two decades

THE head of Scotland’s largest teaching union has announced his decision to retire after almost two decades in the job.

Ronnie Smith, general secretary of the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), will stand down at the end of March.

The announcement came the day after thousands of teachers took part in the first national strike by the profession in Scotland for 25 years.

Mr Smith, a former teacher of Latin and modern studies, joined the EIS in 1973 and was appointed general secretary in 1995.

During his tenure he played a key role in helping reach the 2001 McCrone agreement which secured a 23 per cent pay rise for teachers and was credited with ending years of industrial unrest.

EIS president Alan Munro said: “Ronnie Smith has worked in senior positions within the EIS for 24 years and for 17 years as general secretary. During this time he has made an immense contribution to the EIS, national and international education.”