David O’Neill, president of Cosla, which represents Scotland’s 32 local authorities, has criticised a “harsh regime” under which failure to stick rigidly to teacher numbers and pupil-teacher ratios will mean heavy financial penalties.
Deputy first minister John Swinney has pledged councils a share of £51 million if they maintain both levels, but Mr O’Neill said the loss of one teacher would be treated the same as the loss of 50.
“My concern is that the harshness of this regime undoubtedly means there will be councils who in good faith accept Mr Swinney’s proposals, but are sanctioned in December due to circumstances they cannot control,” he wrote to education leaders after a crisis meeting with the SNP government.
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