Edinburgh EIS says council budget situation is 'extremely concerning' for schools
Writing on behalf of Edinburgh’s branch of Education of Scotland (EIS), Scotland’s largest teaching union, Alison Murphy, EIS Edinburgh Secretary submitted a deputation to Edinburgh City Council outlining “the reality of the financial situation for schools” as the council considers its budget for 2021/2022.
Her response comes as the SNP/Labour ruling administration’s budget proposal was approved at a meeting of the full council yesterday.
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Hide AdAreas agreed in the budget included allocating £2m a year over the next four years buying devices such as iPads for 39,000 school pupils.
£150,000 will also be used to freeze fees and charges on school meals, care at home provision and library charges, targeted at helping low income families.
However, Ms Murphy, emphasised that more funding is needed to ensure Edinburgh teachers are able to deliver an “ever-increasing range of targets” and said the council budget situation is “extremely concerning” for schools.
Ms Murphy told the Edinburgh Evening News: "While this budget doesn’t have particularly fresh Education cuts, there is no doubt that last year’s cuts and the decade of cuts are having a devastating impact and we inevitably end up picking up the pieces for cuts in other parts of the council because the support is being taken away from families but the kids still come to school.
"It’s also more about how some of the cuts from last year are being implemented.
"Unless it’s a budget with significant more funding towards school and other support services for children and families its like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.”
Using data showing that Edinburgh City Council spends approximately 25% less per preschool pupil and 7% less per primary and secondary school pupils than in the rest of Scotland, Ms Murphy said this “raises serious questions about this council’s priorities.”
In her deputation, she wrote: "How can any school provide even basic education with the sort of operating budgets in place in Edinburgh?”
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Hide AdMs Murphy noted that a “crude attempt” to “poverty-proof” cuts – following the council’s decision to cut the Devolved School Management (DSM) budget last year – has meant that many Edinburgh schools are now left with a “devastating” situation where they are attempting to educate children with a budget of less than £1/pupil/day.
Talking about continued cuts to nursery teaching, Ms Murphy said: “At a time when everyone is talking about the impact of Covid-19 on pupils, Edinburgh’s youngest children are being deprived of help from those with the greatest expertise in how to support their learning.”
The council will soon be looking at how to implement the cut in budget for instrumental music tuition.
Ms Murphy has asked the council to “think again about the wisdom of this decision” as reports reveal the number of children learning a musical instrument in Scottish schools has plummeted as a result of the pandemic.
She also suggested “ring-fencing” some of the money from the Scottish Government covid recovery fund to utilise supply teachers and other eligible staff.
The EIS are currently awaiting a council response to their deputation.