Man the barricades!
Wow! I am really surprised at the strength of the response from the Council to the refusal by the Scottish Government to permit the closure of the S1-2 schools.No sign of conciliation, indeed quite the opposite....
The Comhairle said it notes that the Education Secretary deemed that consultations were apparently flawed but has not specified any breach of regulations or guidelines which would support that conclusion.Such was the strength of feeling about the issue that I understand that some of the anti-closure Councillors changed their views when faced with the financial alternatives. I was also told that my old friend, Donald Manford, was considered to have antagonised his colleagues with some comments last week.
Indeed, there is a strain of anti-SNP feeling running through the Council that is at a level that I haven't seen since the anti-Labour feeling in the time running up to the last election. Indeed, one Councillor was talking to me this morning about the 'usurping of power' from the Council by the Government.
The battle is now between 'local schools' and 'new schools', and it is going to be an emotive battle over the future education provision in the islands. I hope the differences can be resolved quickly, but at the moment I think the Government have the upper hand.
However, I believe that we need to back the Council in seeking early clarification to determine just where decision making lies, and how it can (and should) be exercised.
This is going to get messy and brutal, and whatever the outcome is going to determine the future of education in the islands. Just let it be quick.
11 comments:
What is it about the word 'school' that seems to trigger mass insanity among elected members?
I cant belive that I'd like this to be the case but for this term of office - with that bunch of useless self-important councillors I'd rather the government have the upper hand.
Roll on the next local elections!!!
Just also - I havent seen this in the local news:
http://www.scottisharchitecture.com/news/read/3DReid+win+first+hybrid+PPP+Procurement+project+in+Scotland
I thought the council "leader" has been saying its difficult to build the new schools because of Fiona Hyslops decision - well that report suggests otherwise...
4.22
It's obvious really, none of our elected have had any sort of education so they have no idea what goes on in schools or indeed what to do with them. I think they see them as an unnecessary burden on the Council Tax payer, and their life as a Councillor would be better without them!! So lets get rid of all schools and let them concentrate on something they can do.
Does anyone have any ideas as to what the 'something' might be though? as they don't seem to be very good at running anything.
Running a tweed mill? Organising a community broadband service? Writing an embittered blog?
I'm sure they could do all these things at least as well as the people currently responsible . . .
Its all very well moaning about the elected few - next time round in true hebredean fashion the good burgers of the Western isles will vote them all back again - "its what we have always done" sic Reformation.
The main trouble is that the financially sensible thing to do is to close all the s1/s2 schools and centralise all the secondary pupils to the NI, SeS etc.
That option doesn't play well to the parents of the few pupils at these outlying s1/s2 schools thus all the prevaricating.
It shows the major flaw in any democracy - that being that mob rule tends to dictate the popular choice rather than the right choice.
Regards
EddieH
If there was a decent broadband service, all the kids could be educated at home!
maybe that broadband service could be powered by wind turbines ;-)
10.52
I would love to look into a crystal ball and see the outcome of home education.
becareful of what you wish for it may be the next proposal!!!
The reasons for not closing schools in Uist have been purile. The pupils would be better served by attending Lionioclate and this decision should have been taken years ago.
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