Holyrood anger over cuts to Dundee's schools
Plans to cut more than £4 million from Dundee's education budget have been condemned at Holyrood.
The Scottish Parliament building at Holyrood.
- By David Clegg, political reporter
- Published in the Courier : 17.12.10
- Published online : 17.12.10 @ 01.10pm
Labour leader Iain Gray raised the issue while attacking Alex Salmond over his "legacy of failure" on schools during First Minister's Questions.
He highlighted a claim by Dundee City Council education convener Liz Fordyce that the planned cuts — announced earlier this week — would make the service better.
"In SNP Dundee they have cut £4 million from schools," he said.
"But don't worry — education convener Liz Fordyce actually says it will make the schools better.
"Why didn't she cut £8 million and make them absolutely fantastic?"
He added, "Is this the SNP's schools policy — cuts are good for schools and children don't really need teachers?"
The council plans to save almost £4.5m by introducing a "city campus" for lessons, scrapping learning support programmes, and cutting teacher training, IT and the number of deputy head teachers.
Mr Gray also claimed SNP-led Renfrewshire Council are planning to cut teaching positions and cover some classes with community education workers or even volunteers.
But Mr Salmond claimed the majority of cuts Scotland was facing stemmed from decisions by the previous Labour administration at Westminster.
'An insult'
He sad, "Let's talk about Dundee — I mentioned the success of Renfrewshire in increasing the number of classes to class sizes of 18 or less.
"I should in fairness also have mentioned Dundee, which has gone from 6.5% to 27.2% this year."
He also said Dundee City Council had "led the way" in the employment of newly-qualified teachers — taking on 68% of those who had just finished their probationary year.
Mr Salmond said, "If only all councils were doing that."
Mr Gray said afterwards that Ms Fordyce had "undermined her own credibility" by saying that the proposals would improve education in Dundee.
He said, "Parents and teachers in Dundee will not be fooled by the SNP's ridiculous claim a £4m cut will lead to better service for pupils.
"You cannot come out with such statements, especially when there is such a lack of detail.
"It is an insult to people's intelligence."
'Wide of the mark'
He added, "The education convener has undermined her own credibility.
"Alex Salmond and the SNP have let down Dundee's schools over the last three years.
"Harris Academy would have been refurbished under Labour but such plans have been kicked into the long grass.
"Meanwhile, as First Minister he is only too ready to turn up for the opening of the Grove, a school commissioned by previous Labour administration, and try and claim the credit."
Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick claimed that Mr Gray's comments were "wide of the mark."
He said, "The council is having to make £14.6 million of savings because of the mess left by the last Labour government.
"In education three-quarters of the proposed savings are in backroom and managerial services which will focus spending at the chalk-face in the classroom."
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