Highlands and Islands MSP Donald Cameron is backing plans to create a new rural teacher fund.
The proposal, announced by Scottish Conservative Leader Douglas Ross, is in response to longstanding staff shortages in schools across rural Scotland.
Mr Cameron said: “Too many schools in my region, and across rural Scotland, are struggling to recruit teachers and this inevitably means that some of our children are not getting the support they should."
“Tackling this should be the number one priority of the Scottish Government but, unfortunately, education has been badly neglected by the SNP."
“I am very pleased that Douglas has placed schooling firmly at the top of his agenda. Nothing should be more important than realising the potential of our young people.”
Councillor Yvonne McNeilly, Policy Lead for Education on Argyll and Bute Council, added: “This is a real, practical approach to a very serious problem for us in rural areas .
“Putting money into a vital issue like this will be widely welcomed locally and helps us get on with the job we were elected to do, which is supporting our teachers and pupils.”
