Fewer schoolteachers claiming benefits

THE number of teachers claiming benefits has fallen according to Government figures.

New statistics show those on jobseeker's allowance fell from 345 in November to 320 in December 2010. This represents the fourth consecutive monthly drop in teacher claimants, and the fourth consecutive year-on-year decline.

However Ronnie Smith, general secretary of the EIS, said: "These figures tell us nothing about the growing number of Scottish trained teachers who have moved outside Scotland to secure a permanent teaching job, nor do these figures include the increasing number who have reluctantly stopped looking for teaching work and moved on to other careers."

Education secretary Michael Russell said: "These figures again show we are making real inroads into teacher unemployment."