SCHOOLS PROGRAMME IN CRISIS
Thu 8th Oct 2009
I spoke in this weeks Schools Programme Debate where I brought the Scottish Government to task over its claim to have announced the rebuilding of 14 Schools.
James Gillespie's was one of the 14 schools announced for rebuilding, however, what the Scottish Government failed to mention was that it will only provide two thirds of capital funding, leaving local authorities to find the remaining one third.
Gillespie's is estimated to cost around £42million meaning the City of Edinburgh Council will have to find the other £14m. The Convenor of Education at the council has already said that the money is not there, therefore, this announcement is a hollow one.
For the Scottish Government to announce that these schools are going to be rebuilt but then ask local authorities to find the extra cash by forcing them to close existing schools, increase class sizes, cut school budgets so pupils are bringing in their own books and paper and stop free school meals is unjust and is in stark contrast to its promise to match the previous governmetns school buildings programme, brick for brick.
Instead, the Scottish Government is undermining the excellent achievement of the 328 schools rebuilt or refurbished from 1999 to 2007, 34 of which were in Edinburgh. Not one single school has been built since May 2007.
Not one single brick has been laid and a big question mark remains over how they will fund this programme.
The Scottish Government has failed our teachers, pupils and parents and has put the future of Education in Scotland at risk.
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