An Education Institute of Scotland (EIS) survey, which questioned more than 300 primary and secondary school teachers in Scottish schools, found there had been a 51 percent rise in the number of children going to school hungry. Teachers have claimed that crippling government austerity measures are forcing schoolchildren in Scotland to go hungry, steal food from their peers and develop mental health issues. The Scottish government has described the survey’s findings as “shocking”, saying that no child should go to school hungry. RT reports: One in five respondents identified an increase in the number of times pupils stole food from their peers and asked teachers for sustenance, according to the findings. number of pupils turning up school hungry and suffering from ill-health is on the rise according to @EISUnion#bbcgms 0615 — Gary Robertson (@BBCGaryR) December 30, 2015 The EIS also reported a 22 percent rise in the number of children older than the P3 age group, which ranges from 6 to 8, taking free school meals. Attendance at free breakfast clubs increased by 27 percent, with a 7 percent increase in the number of parent referrals to food banks, findings show. “It’s not unusual for students to steal food from [...]