A WARNING has been issued over plans to fast-track new teachers into the profession to cope with shortages.

Teachers' leaders said the Scottish Government proposal risked "short-cuts" which could undermine the standards of the teaching profession.

The concern came after John Swinney, the Education Secretary, unveiled plans for a £1 million drive to recruit more than 200 new teachers.

The proposals include fast-track teacher training for graduates in science, technology, engineering and maths subjects, courses for former teachers who want to return to the classroom and measures to attract unemployed teachers from Ireland.

Under the plans, more joint degrees in teaching and specialist subjects such as physics and chemistry will be offered and more primary teachers trained in specialisms such as numeracy, additional support needs and Stem subjects.

Mr Swinney said the proposals would help tackle teacher shortages, but would not undermine the standard of teaching in schools.

He said: "Teachers are the bedrock of Scotland's education system and I want to ensure we do everything we can to attract talented graduates to a career in teaching. The quality of teaching is key to helping pupils achieve and to our aspiration of closing the attainment gap.

"These innovative proposals are designed to do just that while, crucially, maintaining the traditionally high standard of teaching in Scotland.

"We will not change the standard we expect new recruits to attain before they become fully-fledged teachers, but we are determined to broaden the routes into the classroom and speed up the process."

However, Larry Flanagan, general secretary of the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) said current arrangements where post-graduate training was followed by an induction period of a year in the classroom was the right one.

Mr Flanagan said: "A key strength of the Scottish system is an all-graduate teaching profession, coupled with a guaranteed induction year in a school to provide all new teachers with practical experience to complement their theoretical study.

"Our consistent view is that one-year of postgraduate training followed by a one-year induction period is the minimum period for any individual to become fully comfortable with both teaching theory and its practical application.

"To suggest moving to a shortened fast-tracking route is inconsistent with the need to maintain and enhance the highest standards."

Iain Gray, Scottish Labour's education spokesman, said the SNP had cut over 4,000 teachers from schools and axed hundreds of millions of pounds from council education budgets.

He added: "Whatever the merit of some of these schemes, £1m is not going to solve our teacher recruitment crisis or address falling standards in literacy, numeracy and science, technology, engineering and maths subjects."

Ross Greer, the Green education spokesman added: "Recruiting more teachers is essential because 4000 posts have gone since 2007. If the plans do result in 200 new teachers that still falls well short of what's needed."