Investing in education recovery

13 Dec 2021 10:36 AM

Children, young people and learners of all ages will benefit from record investment in education in the 2022-23 Budget.

Resource and capital spending is up almost £200 million – one of the biggest rises in the history of the Scottish Parliament.

An investment of £145.5 million will ensure the sustained employment of additional teachers and classrooms assistants – enough for around 2,500 teachers and 500 support staff. This represents the biggest increase to support teacher recruitment since 2007.

The Scottish Attainment Challenge will receive £200 million - part of the record £1 billion that will be provided over the course of this Parliament to tackle the poverty-related attainment gap.  

Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said:

“Our priority is to ensure that all our children and young people have the opportunities they need to fulfil their potential in school and beyond.

“The COVID-19 pandemic continues to present challenges, but our commitment to equity and excellence in education does not waver. This record investment in education in the 2022-23 Budget demonstrates our determination to support learners of all ages.

“The sustained employment of additional teachers and classroom assistants to support school staff and pupils is a key part of that. So too is our investment to accelerate the pace of tackling the poverty-related attainment gap and achieve the best possible outcomes for all our children and young people, whatever their background.”

The Budget will also deliver:

• an offer of 1,140 hours of funded high quality early learning and childcare to all three and four-year-olds and eligible two-year-olds
• over £42 million for the expansion of free lunches for children in primary four and five and special schools, and £30 million for investment in school kitchens and dining areas to prepare for future expansion to all primary school children
• £20 million to remove instrumental music tuition and core curriculum charges
• An initial £15 million for infrastructure to provide a digital device to every school-aged child by 2026
• nearly £2 billion for universities and colleges
• £50 million for the Whole Family Wellbeing Fund, helping to keep The Promise to reduce the number of children in care by supporting families before they reach crisis point
• funding for Scotland’s Redress Scheme to support survivors of historical child abuse in care
• £10 million for a summer holiday childcare and activities programme for low income families
• a further £5 million to renew play parks

Background

The 2022-23 Budget delivers an increase in education and skills resource and capital spending of 6.2% on 2021-22.

Scottish Budget 2022-23