Created on: 22 Dec 2025 | Last modified: 05 Jan 2026
The EIS has announced that it will soon launch its new Manifesto for Education, including key costings, ahead of the Scottish Parliament election.
The EIS Manifesto will incorporate research and costings by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), providing an independent analysis on EIS policy priorities for Early Years and school education in Scotland.
The Manifesto will be formally launched at a special event on Thursday 22nd January in Edinburgh, and will then be freely available via the EIS website.
The EIS is not affiliated to any political party, and will not encourage its members to vote for any particular political party. Instead, the Manifesto will set out the key Education issues that the EIS believes the next Scottish Government administration should prioritise, from Early Years through to Higher Education.
Amongst the key issues likely to be the focus of the EIS Manifesto are: ASN provision; class sizes; teachers’ class contact hours; GTCS-registered teachers in Early Years establishments; universal free school meals provision; and fair and sustainable funding of schools, colleges and universities.
Commenting, EIS General Secretary Andrea Bradley said, “The launch of the EIS Education Manifesto, in a little over two weeks, will lay down a significant marker to politicians of all political parties. Education is amongst the most important of devolved issues for the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government, and must be a major focus of all parties’ election campaigns, though without it being treated as a political football.
"Scotland’s teaching professionals, Scotland’s learners and Scottish society as a whole, deserve to know exactly what each party would offer for Scottish education, not only for the short term but, critically, the long-term vision.”
Ms Bradley continued, “The EIS Manifesto will set a range of policy priorities for Scottish education, and challenge Scotland’s politicians to meet those challenges. Education is the bedrock of our society, and it must be fully respected and properly supported, including with increased investment, by politicians from all points of the political spectrum.
"The EIS will be sharing and discussing our policy priorities with Scotland’s politicians, and urging them to match our ambitions for Scottish education, its learners and its teaching professionals.”
Ms Bradley added, “The EIS is proud to play its part in the democratic processes that are so essential to our society. It is through education that we can support and enhance the health and prosperity of that society, its democracy and social cohesion, and that is why all of Scotland’s political parties must make clear their own policy priorities for Scottish education.
"The EIS Manifesto will play an important part in supporting this process, for the benefit of citizens of all ages across Scotland.”
Audio Clips
EIS General Secretary Andrea Bradley has recorded a clip on the above statement for use on radio.