A bitter political row has broken out after new figures revealed teacher numbers in Scotland have dropped by more than 1,300 in the past year.
Statistics published on Friday also confirmed that pupil-teacher ratios had increased since 2008, while there was no improvement in the proportion of children in primary 1 to primary 3 in class sizes of 18 or fewer.
The Government was quick to react, blaming Scottish councils for "deliberately refusing" to meet their pledges on class sizes.
However, opposition politicians insisted this was one mistake too many and called for Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop to be sacked.
Across the country, the number of teaching staff fell from 54,341 to 53,993 - a reduction of 1,348. The drop was not confined to one area of education, but consistent across primary, secondary and special schools.
Last year, the statistics showed a reduction of 1,000 teachers since the SNP came to power in 2007.
On Thursday, Labour leader Iain Gray used First Minister's Questions to slate Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop.
After Friday's announcement, he said: "Enough is enough. These figures today show the complete failure of Fiona Hyslop on teacher numbers.
"It's time now for Alex Salmond to do the right thing and turf her out of his cabinet.
"Her record in office has been one broken promise after another."
Tory schools spokesperson Liz Smith MSP also hit out, saying: "Under Fiona Hyslop’s watch over 2,000 fewer teachers are now employed in Scotland. That is a shocking reflection of the SNP Government and its manifesto commitments on education have been completely torn to shreds."
She added: “It is not difficult to see what damaging effects this will have on those currently at college and university who are considering teaching as a career. Hapless Fiona Hyslop should hang her head in shame.”
Friday's figures confirmed that the average primary class size had reduced from 23.2 to 23.1 in the past 12 months. However, the statistics also revealed that the number of primary pupils had reduced by 0.7 percent overall.
The SNP immediately hit back at criticism, laying the blame firmly at the feet of Scotland's councils, particularly Glasgow.
Fiona Hyslop admitted the figures were "simply unacceptable", but insisted the Government was not to blame. She said the SNP had provided £110 million to sustain teacher numbers, but accused local authorities of splashing the cash elsewhere.
She said: "Half of Scotland's councils have delivered improvements in primary school class sizes. Half have not. What is more, there has been a sharp fall in the number of teachers. That is simply unacceptable.
She added: "Some councils are deliberately refusing to meet their class size pledge. In particular, Glasgow City Council is responsible for more than one quarter of the total fall in teacher numbers. For one authority among 32 councils to account for such a huge drop is deplorable."
However, the figures are the latest in a line of blunders being blamed on the education secretary. She was also blasted over plans to improve the teacher employment situation which she unveiled earlier this week.
She revealed councils were to be allowed to borrow £10 million to fund the retirement of 500 teachers, in a bid to get new teaching graduates into work.
However, the plan was blasted by opposition MSPs for encouraging more debt, while many council leaders said they were being forced to axe experienced staff.
