Stewart Stevenson MSP Welcomes Support for STEM Subjects

Stewart Stevenson, MSP for Banffshire & Buchan Coast, this week asked the Minister for Learning, Science and Scotland’s Languages, Dr Alasdair Allan, what the Scottish government is doing to promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics in schools.

The Minister responded by explaining that the Scottish Government had announced £1.5 million of funding to support science, technology, engineering and maths in primary and secondary schools.

Mr Stevenson went on to ask what steps the Scottish government are taking to address the challenges faced for teacher recruitment in STEM subjects.

Dr Allan responded:

“The Scottish Government launched a teacher recruitment campaign in September to encourage more people to become teachers. We are supporting a collaboration between the University of Stirling and Heriot-Watt University whereby some of Heriot-Watt’s STEM students will train as teachers in parallel with their undergraduate STEM studies. Part of the £12 million transition training fund, which will help people who face job losses in the oil and gas sector to find alternative employment, will be available to support people who want to become teachers.”