Labour group's alternative budget proposes more money for education
The Labour group on Dundee City Council is to propose an alternative budget with more money for education.
- By Grant Smith, education reporter
- Published in the Courier : 01.02.12
- Published online : 01.02.12 @ 08.49am
Last week the council's SNP administration put forward its four-year capital plan, including more than £50 million for schools. It follows its announcement of plans for the revenue budget for 2012/13, to be considered on February 9.
Councillor Laurie Bidwell, Labour group education spokesman, said: ''We are particularly unhappy about the SNP's proposed cuts to the visiting PE and music teachers who help to enrich the curriculum in our primary schools. We think this is an especially short-sighted saving.
''Right now we should trying to encourage our young people to be more actively involved in sports and leisure activities including music-making. While this should start at home, it should also be happening in all our primary schools.''
Mr Bidwell said the group also believed there was scope in the capital plan to spend more on refurbishing older schools, to ''avoid having a two-tier set of school buildings with unacceptable differences'' between new and old.
The administration wants to spend £20 million building new primary schools in Menzieshill and Coldside and another £1.75 million on improvements at seven primaries, with £2 million to extend Barnhill Primary and Kingspark School.
The council is committed to paying a third of the £31 million bill for rebuilding Harris Academy, with the rest of the cash from the Scottish Government.
10.11am - 01.02.2012 Tom - Dundee, Scotland Report This
When Labour left power in 2007, there were 256,794 pupils in schools officially recorded as in ‘poor’ or ‘bad’ condition. The number had fallen from 137,606 – a 53% reduction – to 119,188 by 2010. That number continues to fall. Labour's record is shameful. Cllr Bidwell wants to wish that away.
10.11am - 02.02.2012 Thornindaside - perth, scotland Report This
Most days I walk past a new build state of the art primary/com campus,never been in but the playground furniture/facilities are imprssive.At the other end of town is my grandson's school.Surounded by a well kept estate it's outward appearance is a shocker wonder when it's getting a slice of the cake
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