TEACHERS “hid” an old printer in their school so they could keep using it because a new council contract did not supply enough, parents have said.
The National Parent Forum of Scotland used the example in its submission to the Scottish Government’s review of the way schools are run.
Although the forum suggested empowering schools would not raise standards, it backed the transfer of control of teacher recruitment and procurement.
It also warned that Scottish Government initiatives were preventing flexibility at school level, such as the national drive to protect teacher numbers.
The submission states: “Devolved school management is seen as a positive initiative, but national agreements on staffing arrangements and salary levels means that the bulk of this budget is taken up by staffing costs. This places limits on the flexibility and autonomy for other types of spending.
“Current procurement systems also place additional restraints on headteachers and the majority of parents feel that local authority contracts do not always provide best value for money.
“For example, one parent said that following a changed printing contract, a teacher in their school hid an older printer so they could continue using it. The teacher did this because there would be fewer printers under the new contract.”
The forum’s consultation response went on to highlight teacher shortages at schools.
It said: “Parents have given many examples of the measures schools are taking due to teacher shortages and are concerned about the over-use of supply teachers. Headteachers are often filling in for teachers, which impacts the performance in their own tasks and responsibilities. Some schools are using supply teachers instead of going through the process of recruiting full-time, permanent teachers. Where there is no school budget for supply teachers... there are examples of children being allowed to watch films. Parents are also concerned that teachers do not have time to collaborate.”
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