Created on: 09 Nov 2023 | Last modified: 15 Nov 2023
cc. Shetland MSP, Highlands and Islands MSPs, Councillors at Shetland Islands Council, all members of the Education and Families Committee at Shetland Islands Council and all members of UHI Shetland Board.
We are writing to invite you to a briefing organised by the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) and Educational Institute of Scotland Further Education Lecturers Association (EIS FELA) members across Shetland. We are the local voice of teachers and lectures and are organising this briefing to discuss our concerns and aspirations for the future of education in Shetland.
Monday 20th November 2023
Room 12, Islesburgh Complex, King Harald St, Lerwick, ZE1 0EQ
16.00 to 18.00.
As you know UHI Shetland are undertaking an Academic Restructure with the intention of shedding 18.07 full time equivalent lecturer posts at the college. The loss of staff and educational provision on this scale will have a hugely detrimental impact on the community of Shetland - on the staff who will lose jobs and livelihoods; on rural and isolated communities; on the local economy and on the young people who have a right to access tertiary education locally. The section proposed for deletion is Community Learning and Business which offers courses to students with additional support needs in the form of Lifeskills and Access to Core Skills classes.
EIS nationally launched the ‘Stand Up for Quality Education’ Campaign this year which aims to significantly improve teachers' working conditions by focussing on health, safety, and wellbeing at work. This has a knock-on impact to the quality of learning experiences for pupils. As part of this campaign, we are highlighting concerns about resourcing issues for pupils with additional support needs. EIS Local Association will also share the results of a recent survey of members that highlights concerns about the current ASN delivery in Shetland schools.
Our members across schools and UHI Shetland will be able to provide you with information and testimonies from our members on why we need proper investment in education, including additional support needs, and the long-term benefits of that for everyone. As representatives involved in educational provision and delivery in Shetland, we hope that you can join us for this meeting.
If you can attend, please let me know as soon as possible.
Kind Regards,
Matthew Moss, EIS Shetland Local Association Secretary
Andrew Anderson, EIS FELA Branch Secretary, UHI Shetland