28 March 2003
Scottish Education Minister Cathy Jamieson has used a local government conference to announce an extra £80m to guarantee full implementation of the McCrone agreement on teachers' workloads.
Jamieson used her opening address to the annual conference of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities in St Andrews on March 26 to unveil the cash injection.
She told delegates it was intended specifically to address worries expressed by some authorities about the financial implications of the agreement. Cosla has been lobbying the Executive to win extra funding so that all authorities can afford to meet their obligations.
'We have carefully considered Cosla's arguments for additional funding and have agreed to provide additional resources to ensure that all the elements within the agreement are delivered and delivered on time,' Jamieson said. 'Our school children will reap the benefits of better-motivated and better-trained teachers.'
The McCrone deal was struck between the Scottish Executive, Cosla and the teaching unions in January 2001 and was intended to tackle excessive workloads and offer opportunities for professional development to all teachers.
The £80m will be available in three tranches: £25m in 2003/04, £20m in 2004/05, and £35m in 2005/06.
Cosla president Pat Watters said he 'very much welcomed' the news of the extra cash. 'The money recognises the current funding difficulties some councils are experiencing,' he said. 'It will allow councils to take forward their plans in developing the teaching profession fit for the twenty-first century.'
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