Oil and gas workers offered opportunity to retrain as teachers

Oil and gas workers in the North Sea industry who become unemployed as a result of the industry’s downturn could be given the chance to retrain as teachers.

The Scottish government has already announced that £12 million will be provided to smooth transition of workers leaving the industry and will give priority to those wanting to retrain in science, technology, engineering and maths.

The General Teaching Council for Scotland welcomed the move, and said it could go some way to aaddressing teacher shortages.

Scottish Education Secretary Angela Constance said: "We have a highly skilled oil and gas workforce and it is important that we harness their abilities to benefit the next generation, the future of the industry and the north east of Scotland.

"Developing options within the £12 million Transition Training Fund will help ensure we don't lose valuable oil and gas sector skills, which can be put to excellent use and will lead to more high-quality, passionate teachers in the area."

Larry Flanagan, general secretary of the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), said: "This investment to support the retraining of experienced workers as teachers will help to tackle teacher shortages, while also continuing to ensure that only fully qualified teachers are deployed in order to maintain the very high standards of learning and teaching in Scotland's schools."

The funding will add to Prime Minister David Cameron’s pledge to provide a £20 million funding package to help the North Sea Oil and Gas sector.