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International reports, Audit Scotland, trade unions and the Scottish Governments
own surveys all agree, standards in Scottish education are falling. The system is
crying out for investment.
The Sutton Trust, PISA and UCAS have all shown that the attainment gap in
Scotland is widening. The governments own statistics show that class sizes are
increasing, teacher numbers are down and spending per pupil has dropped.
But years of cuts implemented by John Swinney as Finance Secretary have resulted
in 1.5billion less being spent on local services, which has resulted in:
A consultation to decide who funds schools was meant to be launched this month.
John Swinney wants to set the budgets of all schools centrally across Scotland,
rather than allow decisions to be made locally by those who work in the local
communities.
Delayed until: UNKNOWN
The introduction of national testing is one of the SNPs flagship education policies
and it is now six months behind schedule due to a delay in pilot schemes. Last
month not one of Scotlands councils had started pilots of the new standardised tests
in literacy and numeracy.
Delayed until: UNKNOWN
The government has repeatedly said that education is its defining mission and
promised that it would publish its Education Bill early in 2017.
Delayed until: LATE IN 2017
RESPONSES TO THE SNPS GOVERNANCE REVIEW
Councillors from the SNP-controlled Dundee City Council said: "The real barriers
have been imposed on councils over recent years following a series of past and
present reductions to the budget."
The SNP Group on East Dunbartonshire Council said The financial constraints,
due to the reduction in public sector spending, are having an impact on education
and schools. East Dunbartonshire has adopted a strategy to protect front line
services as much as possible but the cumulative effect of the reduction in the budget
year on year and the need to continue to make savings from a reduced budget are
having an impact on the flexibility of schools to use their budget to meet the needs of
the school community.
The EIS said: The greatest barrier is and has been the imposition of austerity driven
budgets and the underfunding of the Scottish Education system over the past period
Aberdeen Parent Council Forum said: Local council budgets have been reduced
year on year for a considerable number of years. Teacher shortages impact the
ability to deliver excellence and equity for all, HTs and DHTs have to spend time
covering gaps instead of leading.
Scottish Parent Teacher Council said: It is ironic that a document which has as
one of its stated aims that parents should be more empowered, in fact excluded very
many parents from participation.
The consultation presumed high levels of knowledge about the existing governance
model in Scottish education, and used language which would be familiar only to
those working in the sector. It is tantamount to expecting a patient with a broken leg
to understand the inner workings and operational structures of the various NHS
services they might encounter
CONSULTATIONS AND REVIEWS
Since last Mays election, the SNP has launched at least 120 consultations and
reviews.
The total number will be even higher. There is a website listing all consultations,
however no such website exists for reviews. As a result it is very difficult to know
exactly how many have been announced.