NEARLY 4000 Scottish teaching jobs have been lost since the SNP came to power, new figures show.

There are now 51,441 teachers employed by councils compared to 55,100 in 2007 – a fall of nearly 7%.

In addition, one in five newly qualified teachers is jobless, although the situation has improved slightly.

The fall in teacher numbers is revealed in a compendium of education statistics published yesterday, which also show the SNP is struggling to meet manifesto commitments on class sizes and pupil-teacher ratios.

Truancy is on the up, with over 1.6 million school days missed last year, raising fears pupils are being "turned off school" because of bleak employment prospects.

However, this was countered by positive news that higher numbers of pupils are either getting a job, securing a place at university or college or undertaking training after leaving school.

The number of pupils excluded from school is also declining as councils seek to find more constructive alternatives to expulsion and suspension. And the condition of school buildings is improving.

Political opponents yesterday attacked the SNP's record on education since taking power.

Ken Macintosh, education spokesman for the Scottish Labour Party, said: "Despite their promises, the SNP has allowed teacher numbers to fall every year since it took office.

"Even on pupil-teacher ratios, as opposed to class sizes, the SNP Government is doing exactly the opposite of what they said they would do. I worry not just for our teachers, but for our children who are the real losers here."

Liz Smith, education spokeswoman for the Scottish Conservatives, called the figures "embarrassing" for the SNP.

"They promised smaller class sizes, lower pupil-to-teacher ratios, and that they would maintain teacher numbers across the board," she said. "Almost everything is going in the opposite direction to what they pledged.

"Parents in every corner of Scotland, especially those who believed the SNP manifesto in May and voted for them, have every reason to feel let down and angry."

Liam McArthur, the Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesman, added: "With pledges broken on class sizes, teacher numbers plummeting and pupil-teacher ratios going in the wrong direction, the SNP has much to do to reassure Scotland's pupils, parents and staff that it is able to match assertion with action."

However, Michael Russell, the Education Secretary, hit back, highlighting the success of a one-year agreement with local authority body Cosla to limit the decline in teacher numbers.

Under the deal, councils were permitted to reduce their teaching workforce – as long as the overall total did not fall below 51,131.

"In line with our agreement with our partners in teaching unions and local government, they have delivered our commitment to maintain teacher numbers," Mr Russell said.

"The information also shows that attainment has improved, more children are leaving school for positive destinations and that exclusions are down. In addition, key investments in school buildings have resulted in more children attending better quality schools.

"The outlook for Scotland's schools is good, but I must stress that we are not complacent. In the face of Westminster cuts we will continue to work hard to deliver further improvement." Ronnie Smith, general secretary of the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), welcomed the fact the target on teacher numbers had been met, but warned that the profession faced further pressure in future.

The EIS now believes it is time for Scotland to introduce a minimum staffing standard for schools to prevent numbers falling even further.

"These are difficult times for everyone, including for education and public services, so it is welcome that Scottish local authorities have met their commitment on teacher employment numbers for this year," he said.

"While this news is welcome, the guarantee on teacher numbers is for this year alone, so we must work hard in the years ahead to ensure that teacher numbers are maintained, both to protect teachers' jobs and to ensure that pupils in Scottish schools can continue to receive a high-quality education delivered by Scotland's highly qualified and highly professional teachers."

Michael Cook, Cosla's spokesman for human resources, said: "No-one would pretend it was easy to sign up to the packages of changes that were negotiated earlier this year or that educational outcomes are purely dependent on teacher numbers."