Education: The big debate begins

Education authorities are facing a call to merge, so that classrooms may be spared the worst of the cuts in public spending. The former chairman of the spending watchdog, the Accounts Commission, has said that action is needed to avoid duplication of services.

In a separate move, Anton Muscatelli, the Principal of Glasgow University has warned of an impending crash crisis.

Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education, Liz Smith MSP says:

"Scotland has to make some tough choices as we face up to the dire legacy of debt left by Labour.

"In our schools, the key is to get as much money as possible to the chalk face, and it is right that we closely examine the role of our 32 Local education Authorities. It is a good thing that functions and resources are shared, but it would be a retrograde step to centralise more control. Conservatives believe that more power over budgets and greater day-to-day responsibility should be devolved down to our head teachers and schools, not sucked up to an ever greater, centralised bureaucracy. We need an education system centred on the pupils, not on government ministers.

"Anton Muscatelli's warning about University funding is timely. He will be one of a number of expert contributors to an education conference we are hosting on the 21st September in Edinburgh. We want to kick-start the debate which the SNP government has refused to hold about the role and funding of universities and colleges. There will be no easy answers, but Scotland cannot ignore the impending crisis any longer."

Back to all posts