Highlands and Islands MSP Donald Cameron has given his backing to a proposal to offer a two-year employment guarantee to new teachers.
The proposal, which has been tabled by the Scottish Conservatives, is designed to help address teacher shortages in rural communities such as the Highlands and Islands.
Mr Cameron said: “We really need to do more to reassure people considering a teaching career that, at the end of their training, there will be a job for them."
“Unfortunately, in this area, as in others such as health, the SNP Government has all too often got its workforce planning badly wrong which has had a disproportionately severe impact on rural communities."
“Our proposal is a practical one which would help to secure the right number of graduate teachers coming into the workforce."
“I very much hope that ministers will give it serious consideration.”
Councillor Yvonne McNeilly (Cowal Ward), Policy Leader for Education on Argyll and Bute Council, commented: “Given that councils can be penalised for failing to achieve the right teacher-pupil ratios, I am very much in favour of this proposal.
“Teaching is a wonderful and rewarding career and I hope that this policy, if adopted, will encourage more talented people to enter the profession.”
