Campaigners say even 1% education cut is too much

Published on Tuesday 9 February 2010 09:07

HUNDREDS of school pupils and parents were today set to hold a protest against plans to slash school budgets – despite the cuts being scaled back.

The city council is to cut the budget of every school in the city by 1 per cent as part of its plans to find 27 million of savings across the city in the next year.

The cut is much lower than the original 2.5 per cent cut proposed by education chiefs.

Parents said schools cannot cope with any cuts, which they said would have an impact on staff in areas such as drama, music, art and PE, as well as reducing extracurricular activities.

Parents and pupils from 23 schools across the city were preparing to take part in today's rally, due to begin at 4:15pm outside the City Chambers.

Frank Bergeret, co-chairman of the parent council at Bruntsfield primary and one of the main organisers of the rally, said: "For us, this is 1 per cent too much. In the last three years every school has had cuts that they have had to manage and they are struggling.

"We are really worried that, because most of a school's costs come from staff salaries, they will implement this cut by making staff move away. We could lose very precious resources, like librarians, music specialists and other specialist teachers."

Tonight's rally was set to include guest speakers, banners, balloons and performances by children who have benefited from specialist music teaching.

Gavin Corbett, chair of Craiglockhart primary's parent council, who organised an online petition against the cuts that has now been signed by 1600 parents, said:

""It is important to send out the message that it is not just about this year but about future years as well."

Final details of the 2010/11 Budget are to be agreed at a meeting on Thursday.

The Evening News revealed yesterday that the Labour group on the council is calling for no cuts in front-line services. It will instead propose a pay freeze for council staff paid more than 40,000.

The Conservative group today said that it will fight the cuts, calling instead for layers of education management to be stripped back and for the system to be made more efficient.

Cameron Rose, finance spokesman for the Tories, said: "The problems in education are structural and the city is doing nothing to address them."

Councillor Marilyne MacLaren, the city's education leader, said: "Last year we protected schools from cuts and I am pleased that this year we have been able to bring savings down to just 1 per cent, which is far less than in other areas of the council."