A COUNCIL is set to recruit teachers from within local military bases to tackle a chronic staffing shortage.
Moray, which like other local authorities has struggled to recruit teachers, has previously warned that pupils could be sent home.
It is to launch a pilot scheme to use qualified teachers who live in the area as families of personnel stationed at RAF Lossiemouth and the Kinloss army barracks, formerly RAF Kinloss.
Moray was among seven local authorities who attended a summit in Aberdeen in September to address the issue.
Earlier this year it revealed there were 70 teaching vacancies in 53 of its schools with some vacant posts attracting no suitable candidates at all.
Free housing of up to a year was even offered at one point in an attempt attract teachers.
But an untapped resource may be on the council's doorstep with some 3,000 service personnel, many of whom may have qualified as teachers outside Scotland.
As a result, they do not always have the necessary qualifications and experience to register as a teacher with the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS), the regulatory body.
Following a recent consultation on its registration rules GTCS has invited Moray to undertake a pilot scheme. Subject to approval of its proposal by GTCS Council members when they meet next month, the pilot would allow qualified teachers to be provisionally registered while they undergo ‘top-up’ training to enable full registration.
Chair of Moray Council’s education and young person’s committee, Anne Skene, said: “This is a great opportunity for us to employ the teachers we know exist within our community,” she said. "I commend the GTCS for this initiative.
"We already have a very close working relationship with our military communities, and I can only see this as strengthening that bond.”
GTCS Chief Executive, Kenneth Muir said:“We register over 350 teachers a year from England and many more from countries around the world but only if those teachers meet our registration standards.
“We accept that we could offer more flexibility in how we register teachers and this is why we undertook the recent consultation."
Moray Council will fund the cost of a top-up qualification while the teachers are employed.
Group Captain Mark Chappell, Station Commander at RAF Lossiemouth, said it was a welcome move.
“There are a significant number of military spouses and partners who are teachers. This scheme would allow them to continue with their careers whilst their partners are stationed at RAF Lossiemouth,” he said.
“The proposal is of dual benefit; reducing the impact a rather nomadic military lifestyle on civilian teachers’ careers and helping reduce the shortfall in qualified teachers in the area."
He said the base's community support staff would work with Moray Council to encourage and support any members of our service families who wished to participate in the scheme.
Moray Council have already sought interest from teachers within the MoD communities, and several have been in touch with the authority.
Director of Education and Social Care, Laurence Findlay, said he expects a good number to be ready for registration once the GTCS Council have approved the changes needed.
He said “This may well help resolve our problem and could provide a basis for further changes that assist other areas."
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