As reported in yesterday's 'Courier', I have welcomed the agreement by the Dundee City Council leader that he will invite all parties to participate in talks with Scottish Government Ministers over education funding in the city.The financial challenges facing our education service, particularly in relation to attempting to deliver costly government policies is of concern to all parties on the City Council and it makes sense that all parties are invited to participate in talks with the schools minister, Keith Brown. I would hope that the Education Cabinet Secretary Fiona Hyslop would also take the time to listen to Dundee’s case.
It is a bit baffling, however, that he is suggesting that there be an initial meeting with Ministers involving only SNP councillors. Apparently, a further meeting will then be sought with Ministers at which all parties on the City Council will be invited to participate. Given the pressure on Ministers' diaries it begs the question as to how speedily all this can be achieved and I question if its really the best and most efficient way to get across the city's case for increased education resources.
And resources are the nub of the matter - it is very important that the SNP government clarifies what and how much additional funding was going to be forthcoming to allow the council to achieve class sizes reductions.
I have no doubt that on all political sides, we would agree that class size reductions in P1-3 would be a welcome step, but, thus far, the SNP Government, having announced the policy, has totally failed to fund it. Policies cannot be implemented without the resources to deliver them and so I will be interested to hear - and hear soon - how much additional funding the government will earmark for Dundee.
Furthermore, given the news that John Swinney, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, has decided to re-examine the government’s priorities for local government service improvements such as SNP manifesto promises on reduced class sizes and free school meals (click on the headline above to view more), I will be seeking assurances that the government is not going to ditch its promises in education but is going to start funding them properly.
And resources are the nub of the matter - it is very important that the SNP government clarifies what and how much additional funding was going to be forthcoming to allow the council to achieve class sizes reductions.
I have no doubt that on all political sides, we would agree that class size reductions in P1-3 would be a welcome step, but, thus far, the SNP Government, having announced the policy, has totally failed to fund it. Policies cannot be implemented without the resources to deliver them and so I will be interested to hear - and hear soon - how much additional funding the government will earmark for Dundee.
Furthermore, given the news that John Swinney, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, has decided to re-examine the government’s priorities for local government service improvements such as SNP manifesto promises on reduced class sizes and free school meals (click on the headline above to view more), I will be seeking assurances that the government is not going to ditch its promises in education but is going to start funding them properly.