A MOVE to allow teachers from outside Scotland into schools without the level of teaching qualification currently required is a “disservice” to pupils and parents, union leaders have warned.

Seamus Searson, general secretary of the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association (SSTA) said it would be a “sad day” if the controversial proposals were given the go-ahead.

And the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) also criticised the plan arguing it could lead to a dilution of standards.

The criticism came after the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) announced moves to relax tough entry requirements for teaching staff from the rest of the UK.

The change means those who have a proven track record in the classroom and the necessary academic qualifications could be registered without necessarily having the level of teaching qualification currently required.

The GTCS said it frequently received applications from individuals in this position, but could only place them on a provisional register until they topped up their teaching qualifications.

A GTCS spokesman said: “For many of these individuals it is clear from references that they have been successfully employed in a teaching position.

“It is proposed that for this specific group of applicants that a revised assessment process is developed.”

The move comes after a raft of teacher shortages across Scotland with figures published last year showing there were 730 unfilled vacancies across 27 of Scotland’s 32 council areas.

There have been particular concerns over shortages of teachers in key subjects such as mathematics, physics and computing.

Mr Searson said: “Awarding full registration without meeting the requirements could be seen as a deregulation of the profession.

“Scotland deserves to have highly qualified teachers and a move away from this would be a disservice to pupils and parents.”

Mr Searson said a better alternative would be to redouble efforts to retain existing teachers adding: “There is something seriously wrong when many teachers in their early 50’s are counting the days to retire.”

A spokesman for the EIS said they would have “serious concerns” about any changes which constituted a lowering of the bar.

He added: “We recognise this proposal may assist recruitment, but recruitment issues cannot be allowed to drive any dilution of standards.

“Only if there were adherence to the essential requirement that applicants hold a degree-level qualification and a relevant and credible teaching certificate could we support this change.”

However, Greg Dempster, general secretary of the Association of Headteachers and Deputes in Scotland welcomed the move.

He said: “Provided we maintain processes which ensure teacher quality then this appears to be a constructive and practical approach by the GTCS to welcoming experienced, highly performing teachers from elsewhere.”

He added: “No doubt some will dismiss this suggestion out of hand, but it is imperative that we explore options to address the current teacher shortage.

“The alternative appears to be to leave our schools short-staffed with school leaders stretching themselves in all directions to plug vacancies and absences.”

Jim Thewliss, general secretary of School leaders Scotland, which represents, secondary heads, also backed the GTCS stance - as long as required standards were maintained.

Last week the GTCS unveiled plans for a global campaign to hire hundreds of teachers to address crippling classroom shortages.

Trainee teachers in Australia, Canada, Ireland and Northern Ireland - countries where they are in surplus - will be invited to apply for positions in Scotland while homegrown talent that has emigrated to lucrative tax-free jobs in Gulf States such as Dubai and Saudi Arabia will be enticed home when their contracts expire.

Retired teachers will also be identified from GTCS registers and urged to return to the classroom on a part-time basis.