The Scottish Government has launched a £1m drive to boost teacher numbers.

Education secretary John Swinney announced the proposals on a visit to Dundee University on Wednesday.

The Scottish Government hopes to increase the number of teachers by 200.

Part of the initiative will also aim to encourage former teachers back into the profession.

Swinney said: "The quality of teaching is key to helping pupils achieve and to our aspiration of closing the attainment gap.

"These innovative proposals are designed to do just that while, crucially, maintaining the traditionally high standard of teaching in Scotland.

"We will not change the standard we expect new recruits to attain before they become fully-fledged teachers but we are determined to broaden the routes into the classroom and speed up the process.

"This is exactly the sort of collaborative approach we need if we are to realise our ambition of achieve excellence and equity in Scottish education, and I am pleased to support it with £1m from our attainment Scotland fund."

The education secretary is also hoping to fast track teachers into science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).

The proposals include:

Ken Muir, chief executive of the General Teaching Council (GTC) in Scotland, said: "Flexibility is crucial when trying to attract new people into the teaching profession and to address the issue of teacher shortages.

"GTC Scotland is at the forefront in promoting a wide range of new and innovative routes into teaching for those wishing to join the profession in Scotland.

"As the accrediting body for teacher education programmes in Scotland, GTC Scotland has the important role in ensuring that these new routes maintain and enhance the high standards of teaching and teacher education expected within our graduate teaching profession."