Mike Russell accuses opposition of ‘anti-Scottish’ education policies
Opposition parties stand accused of harbouring "anti-Scottish" education policies. Picture: Jane Barlow
EDUCATION SECRETARY Mike Russell has accused opposition parties of promoting “anti-Scottish” education policies.
Mr Russell said the “Tory-Labour alliance” at Holyrood is responsible for “hypocrisy”, “scaremongering” and the “exploitation” of college students and principles.
The “unholy coalition” at Westminster is “trying to destroy Scottish education”, he said.
Conservative education spokeswoman Liz Smith led a debate in Holyrood today calling on Parliament to “condemn the Scottish Government for forcing on the (college) sector deeply damaging financial cuts”.
Ms Smith said: “The college sector is being asked to cope with cuts of 8.5% in teaching grants on top of the all the cuts they suffered last year.
“They are being asked to cope with funding cuts of £544 million to £470 million, progressive cuts of £38 million in year one, £50 million in year two and £74 million in year three. So by 2015 there is an annual cut of £74 million.”
She added: “The Scottish Government simply cannot get away from the fact that 1,000 staff were shed in the FE (further education) sector last year and that several colleges have warned the Cabinet Secretary that more are likely to go this year.”
Ms Smith also defended the Conservative policy of charging university tuition fees, against Mr Russell’s insistence that “the overwhelming opinion in Scotland is against paying for education”.
Ms Smith said: “If the Conservatives had their way, there would be extra money in the HE (higher education) sector.”
She accused Mr Russell of “punishing the colleges” because he does not have “enough money for the HE sector”.
Mr Russell said Ms Smith had been condemned “out of her own mouth” in her promotion of “anti-Scottish” tuition fees.
He said: “We are talking about raising fees in Scotland in order to pay for education. The people of Scotland rejected it absolutely in May and they would reject it again.
“It would be interesting to see if Labour has the courage to continue with their policy against paying for education or whether they are moving into that dreadful anti-Scottish, anti-educational block because the Scottish tradition is free education - and I stand proudly for it.”
Mr Russell said the Scottish Government has invested £4.7 billion in colleges alone since 2007, 40% more in cash terms than the previous administration.
He said: “The spending review has been tough for colleges, the result of the unholy coalition which is trying to destroy Scottish education amongst other things.
“Despite that spending review, we will continue to make a significant investment in the sector: over £500 million in 2012-13.
“By comparison, the UK Government is reducing their investment in English FE by £1.1 billion, from £4.3 billion to £3.2 billion. That’s a 25% reduction in cash terms.”
Mr Russell added: “There’s an overwhelming opinion in Scotland against hypocrisy and scaremongering in terms of colleges and certainly in terms of scaremongering, we have heard more of it this morning.
“I have regular meetings with the college principles. We are working together to make sure that we try to get the best out of the situation.
“There is exploitation taking place of them and students across this chamber today.
“We have heard it from one side, we will hear it from the other.”
Labour education spokesman Hugh Henry argued that with growing numbers of young people out of work, the need to invest in colleges had never been greater. He highlighted the “outstanding record” of Scotland’s colleges, saying 350,000 people a year attended them. Mr Henry added that 55% of colleges students are women, while 30% are from the most deprived areas. He also said 70% of those who study at college go on to find work, adding: “Now with an unemployment crisis in this country, now more than ever, we need Scotland’s colleges. We need their expertise and we need their delivery and their success. Now more than ever is the time to invest in Scotland’s colleges.” Mr Henry, a former education minister, went on: “It’s the colleges that will make the difference. If we fail the colleges, if we do not give them the resources, they will not be able to respond to the crisis which is confronting us.” He also hit out at the “arrogance” and “intolerance” of the SNP Government in the wake of Mr Russell’s comments. Mr Henry said: “There is a view amongst those people who are now in Government that no one else has the right to speak for anyone in Scotland except them. And this creeping intolerance will lead at some point for them to say that freedom of speech for the opposition should no longer exist, and everything should be articulated only through them.”
Liberal Democrat Liam McArthur also urged the Government to provide a “fairer deal” for colleges. He said concerns had been raised by the sector about the impact that “cuts will have on the quality, accessibility and affordability of college provision across Scotland”.While he said the SNP blamed Westminster for cutting the overall Scottish budget, Mr McArthur said: “This stuck record ignores the fact that Scottish ministers have an additional £850 million at their disposal since the 20% real-terms cut to college budgets was first announced.”The Lib Dem MSP went on: “While Mr Russell emphasises a commitment to maintain college places, colleges themselves are questioning how on earth quality can be maintained under these circumstances.” He argued that colleges “improve the life chances of thousands of people, of all ages, in all parts of the country”. Mr McArthur said: “They provide students with the skills they need to get up and get on, and deserve a fairer deal from this budget.”
SNP backbenchers argued that the financial situation means tough choices have to be made by the Government.
Marco Biagi said opposition MSPs had urged Finance Secretary John Swinney to find extra cash for a range of areas, including colleges, local councils, housing, fuel poverty, the health service, police and roads.
The Edinburgh Central MSP said: “If members are going to sit there and wring their hands that is their right. In this chamber members do have a right to be heard. But unless they present solutions they simply will not be taken seriously.”
Mr Biagi continued: “We all recognise the importance of colleges, the challenges the face and the difference they can make. But when organisations come to us it isn’t our role to pass a tissue and feel their pain. It is our role as MSPs to govern, to make difficult choices and find solutions.”
Fellow Nationalist Stuart McMillan said: “Not one person in this chamber this morning would wish to reduce the budgets for our further education establishments. But there are tough decisions that this Government needs to make as a result of the budget coming to this Parliament being slashed by the UK coalition of the Conservatives and the Lib Dems.”
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Comments
There are 43 comments to this article
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allymax
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 03:40 AMThe opposition are anti-Scottish.
Maurice the Dolphin
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 02:50 AMThe typical SNP rhetoric from "Teenwolf" Russell that if you're not SNP then you must be anti-Scottish. I think he just gets a bit mad at times having to write that he was born in England whenever filling a form out.
True Scot
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 11:49 PMonce again another of salmond's henchmen plays the antiScottish card., it's getting a bit wearing.
all politicians are the s*me
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 11:24 PM39 Typo!
Tartancult
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 11:09 PM#36 If you do not support the SNP position you are not monuting an effective opposition....."---------------------------Can't disagree (I wonder what he means by 'monuting', is this a sexual term?)
Vote 'NO'
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 10:41 PM35 fat Man = Fat Comptroller
Simonsaid
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 09:31 PM#36- all politicians are the s*me If you do not support the SNP position you are not monuting an effective opposition, you are Anti Scottish ================================================== No supportin the Stupit Numpty Party (SNP) is no Anti Scottish it is Ultra Smert- Oh and by the by is “Anti Scottish” the new SNP slogan thit oor Great Leader has taught his adorin parrots tae caw at awbody thit his a different view frae them ----- eh a mean him
all politicians are the s*me
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 08:59 PMIf you do not support the SNP position you are not monuting an effective opposition, you are Anti Scottish!
Simonsaid
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 08:45 PM#11- Wardog- Vote 'No' in the referendum if you want Scottish Students to pay Tuition fee's, it's that simple. ================================================== Aw gee it a rest wid ye – a dinnae see whit the difference is frae me payin fur ma brood tae go tae Uni ur geein the money tae Fat Man so he can claim thit it is him thits payin fur thur electrocution – a still pay in thre end – sleekit wee midden so he is.
GMacd
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 08:41 PM33 Tartancult - ------------------------------------------by the same token because many Nationalists seem to believe that those that do not support the SNP are anti-Scottish does not make that true
Tartancult
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 08:20 PM#28 I have stated my belief in many other postings that Scotland is a Fascist state in waiting... ------------------------------------------Just because you believe something does not make it true, phallus12.
Danielrober2
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 08:00 PM# 31 allymax ................... The education syllabus cannot be frozen at anyone point in time as technology, industry, trade, commerce, culture and politics changes constantly. For example are you to teach kids about Sudan, based on 2000 or the modern area with two countries and oil disputes? No education and helping kids to better themselves is a tough old business because it must constantly adapt and change to keep up to date with the modern world. Modern languages alone have brought forth another problem. brought about by an opportunity. Studying languages in the recent past meant a job with a multinational or even government, now its a route for work, a summer job or a business opportunity. .......................... Been a teacher is not a jolly good laugh it is a profession. Add to the continuous update difficulties, then the continued expansion and demands of what teachers must do and with lessening resources, and it is hardly a bowl of cherries.
allymax
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 07:06 PM#30 Dan-robber, you guys, yoos Westminster unionist imperialists, have been setting the education syllabus in Scotland for lang-enough, and all you've done is run down the quality, ethic, and value of a good Scottish education; and our education system in Scotland, including our teachers! You've put in place a destabilising portfolio of Westminster policies for education in Scotland, where an education syllabus is changed every 5 years; not allowing a coherent and good education system to get 'embedded' into the education system, nor allowing Scots teachers the time space and efforts to truly aclimatise to the ever-changing education systems. That situation is counterproductive to a good Scottish education system, and a good Scottish education................ Scotland, Scots peoples, elected a Scots party because they know Westminster have no-good-intentions for Scotland, its education system, nor for educating Scots. ...................................... It's time to do it the Scots way, and that's not the Westminster way ! The people voted for this SNP Scottish Government, so let them get on with their jobs without your whining and bleating; we never beset yoos wi' rubbish arguments, whining, and whinging.....................................................................................................The people have spoken, let's get on with it Mr Russell; make Scotland a world leader in education again. allymax.
Danielrober2
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 05:23 PM# 24 allymax ........................ So now its the teachers fault. You guys are intending to take politics into schools, on the single issue of separation on the basis and that teachers have been teaching the wrong materials. Funny thing, before recent SNP policies, attendance to University was increasing. That increase in numbers going to University is a long term teaching success, not a failure.
famous15
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 05:21 PM~28 Mallus me old crab apple. You cannot be an internationalist till you feel cool about ypur own nation. Horizons are not limited in this way...calling people fascists shows you up as a strange kinda weirdo and I am sure you do not want that to happen. Yes? Of course. "Yes" does it for me!
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