Further Frustration

We need to overcome apathy

Bruce I have got very frustrated in the past about HMIe reports not acted on. I have copy of March 2002 report on Fife schooling. Yes Fife can and do nothing if they wish. The only way anything would get done is if it could be proved Fife was a failing Council in its education provision. That report was critical of school buildings also. 5 years is a long time.

The best that can be done is to shake the vast majority of parents out of their apathy. We have a blog going here but even with the article in last weeks Citizen, how may have tried to contact the site? On other issues I have spoken with parents who I know are supportive of the school. They did not know about some of the issues even though numerous national and local papers had carried the story and even the TV had done a bit. It's not as if they had the excuse they could not read, it was just they could be bothered. That is why the council will hold out. All they need to say is any protest is small so why bother?

What I would do is try and get as many people as possible get them to Glenrothes and have a sit in. What about fielding a candidate in the Scottish elections in May? I am sure we would win that one. This is a political fight. I once spoke to a Council employee who had been at Council meeting. A Labour councillor said if NE Fife would vote differently they might get something. Even a head teacher from Central Fife once said why should anything be spent on Madras it does not need it. Madras is seen as a good school and the wee green man is prevalent among other schools and the Council. More direct action is needed.

As I said before, I was at meetings about 4 years ago and it is still all the same.

Where has all the money gone?

One of the main reasons Fife is so poor in its education resources is that only 52% of its grant from the Executive for education is spent on schools. (2006 figures)

The HMIe report of March 2002 bears this out and shows nothing changes:

"Over the last three years, budgeted running costs of education per pupil have been well below the national average. The costs per secondary pupil have been consistently the fourth lowest in Scotland. The Accounts Commission Statutory Performance Indicators for 1999-2000 show that over 70% of primary schools and almost 90% of secondary schools are operating above 61% occupancy. These occupancy levels, notably in secondary schools, are well above the national averages." (page 11)

And:

"Inspection reports on Fife schools over the last three years commonly included critical comment on the quality of accommodation. During the inspection of the authority, visits to schools highlighted concerns about the condition of school buildings. (Page 35)

So nothing has changed at least since 1999!! So much for HMIe reports.

John Montgomery