Labour today hit out over claims that thousands of teaching positions in Scotland will be lost because short term contracts are coming to an end.

Labour today hit out over claims that thousands of teaching positions in Scotland will be lost because short term contracts are coming to an end.

The party called the situation a "shambles" and claimed it meant vacancies will not be left behind for new teachers to fill.

The figures were revealed in a survey by the Times Educational Supplement Scotland.

The survey revealed that one-third of the 25,000 teachers the government expects to leave in the next four years will do so because their work has dried up, and not because they are retiring.

Labour's education spokeswoman Rhona Brankin said: "This situation is a shambles. The fact that these jobs are temporary means that when teachers leave there will be no vacancies to fill, leaving probationers out of work."

She called on education secretary Fiona Hyslop to take action and said: "New teachers need permanent jobs. Fiona Hyslop has failed to create opportunities for them."

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said ministers work with councils to ensure there are enough teachers to fill vacant posts and provide cover with supply teachers.

The spokeswoman added: "Cosla, the teaching unions and the Scottish Government came together in a working group last year to review whether the process for predicting staffing levels was broadly fit for purpose in producing accurate forecasts. It reported in October and concluded that it was broadly fit for purpose."