Talent 'being wasted' as 17 applicants chase every teaching vacancy

EVERY teaching vacancy in Scotland is being chased by an average of 17 applicants.

Councils have revealed the competition for jobs, which varied from 49 applications for each post in Stirling to three per job in Shetland.

The Liberal Democrat Party, which obtained the details through Freedom of Information requests, said teachers' talents are "being wasted" and education secretary Michael Russell has admitted numbers are "a concern".

In total, 75,579 applications were made for 4,520 vacancies in 2009-10 - an average of about 17 for each position.

The average number of applications per job included 14 in Aberdeenshire, 21 in Dundee, 27 in Edinburgh and six in Glasgow. Aberdeen City Council said it does not hold the details.

Higher numbers included 47 in Midlothian, 37 in East Renfrewshire and 33 in North Lanarkshire.

Lower averages per job included five in the Western Isles, four in Dumfries and Galloway, five in Orkney and ten in Moray.

Lib Dem education spokeswoman Margaret Smith said the figures "will be deeply concerning for teachers".

She added: "The SNP said they would maintain the record number of teachers they inherited from the previous Executive, but teacher numbers are down by 3,000.

"Scotland's young people are also missing out on the opportunity to learn from newly trained, enthusiastic teachers who have a wealth of talent and skill being wasted as they struggle to find jobs."

Russell said: "The difficulties faced by teachers looking for a post is a concern. We want to do more and we are examining ways we can provide further help."