Labour: Alex Salmond "failing Scotland's future" ALEX SALMOND should take his Education Secretary with him when he quits the Scottish Government in a few days" time, Labour suggested. The First Minister was accused of "failing Scotland's future" as a result of his party's record on education. Labour's Jackie Baillie claimed there are now more than 4,000 fewer teachers in Scotland's schools than when the nationalists came to power in 2007. She also told Mr Salmond the number of students going to college had fallen by more than 140,000 over that period, with over 3,000 fewer people from poorer areas making it to university. "If I was a teacher, the First Minister's report card would be marked "lacks attention, could try harder and can't even grasp the basics,"" she said. Ms Baillie launched the attack on the outgoing SNP leader at First Minister's Questions in Holyrood, quizzing him after Johann Lamont stood down as leader last month. With Labour looking for a new Scottish leader and deputy, and with the party's support slumping in the polls, Mr Salmond went on the counter attack. He said: "I heard on the radio this morning there are scientists at Glasgow University researching the expanding nature of the universe. And there are political scientists all over Scotland researching the contracting nature of the Scottish Labour Party. From big bang to black hole. Expansion of the universe, disappearance of the Labour Party in Scotland. He hit out after Ms Baillie told him: "The truth is there are fewer teachers giving our children the education they need, there are fewer college places for people trying to get on in life and the poorest people are less likely to go on to university under this SNP Government. He should be ashamed. Isn't it the case that when the First Minister leaves Bute House for the last time he should perhaps consider taking the Education Secretary with him? Scott Macnab: No reshuffle for Nicola Sturgeon?