Teacher's 'personal pain' at school closure 'hypocritical'

Kaukab Stewart, who taught at Bonnington Primary for five years before it closed in December 2008, said in a letter to voters that she had a "nightmare" year after the school was shut.

But her words have been criticised as "disingenuous" and "hypocritical", considering all of Edinburgh's SNP councillors voted along with their Lib Dem colleagues to close seven schools since they formed the coalition in 2007.

As well as Bonnington, Westburn and Lismore primaries have closed under the current administration while Fort, Drumbrae, Royston and Burdiehouse will all close this summer.

But in her letter sent out to voters in the South-west Edinburgh ward, Mrs Stewart made no mention of the fact her SNP colleagues were responsible for the "terrible time" suffered by the school communities as a result.

She wrote: "Like many people the last year has been a bit of a nightmare for me.

"The school I worked at was closed and besides the personal pain felt, it was a terrible time for parents and pupils as well."

Councillor Alison Johnstone, the Green's education spokeswoman, who received the letter through the post, believes Mrs Stewart should have been "open" with potential voters.

She said: "I find it disingenuous of her to state how difficult the closure has been for her personally without mentioning that it was her SNP colleagues that voted for seven school closures in the last 16 months.

"It would have been appropriate for her to explain that it was her colleagues who were responsible for her personal pain."

Councillor Jason Rust, the Conservative candidate for Edinburgh South-west in the forthcoming election, believes residents – particularly parents who have gone through the school closure process – will see her comments as a "slap in the face".

He added: "It's a bit rich, especially as Westburn Primary, which is in the ward, was closed by the SNP/Lib Dem coalition.

"It's very hypocritical for the SNP candidate to be bemoaning school closures when they are behind the closures.

"It's rubbing people's faces in it."

Mrs Stewart, who was transferred to Granton Primary after Bonnington closed, said she stands by what she said in the letter, but also fully supported the "difficult decision" her SNP colleagues had to make.

She said: "It was really hard but in the current economic climate we have to make difficult decisions.

"It was a difficult time and a difficult decision but it doesn't make it the wrong decision.

"I worked at the school for five years but with the school roll dropping there does come a time when classes get too small.

"I stand by my letter but at the same time I did support the decision because of the particular situation we had."