Skint schools a lessonforvoters
School heads asking parents to donate money towards their children’s education is simply the latest result of the Tory’s unstoppable austerity policies (Mirror, April 10).
Add to this the savage welfare cuts, a chronically underfunded NHS, the growth in foodbanks and cuts to the police and military and it begs the question as to why the Tories are so far ahead in the polls.
Can it be that the dislike of Jeremy Corbyn so outweighs the hardship and struggle of life under this Government that people are happy to accept it?
Surely, a Labour government can do better than this given the chance, with policies such as free school meals for primary school children funded by VAT on private school fees? A fairer deal for everyone in this country is possible.
Jim Andrews, Grays, Essex
There are surprising similarities between the NHS and our state school system. The health service is in the process of being privatised by the back door – with services in crisis and waiting lists for routine ops increasing. Now schools are forced to beg parents for cash because of cuts to their budgets. Could this be the introduction of school fees by the backdoor?
Allan Williams East London
For a Government and a succession of Education Ministers who claim to want better standards for our children, the Conservative Party has a strange way of showing it. Cuts in school funding means less per pupil to spend, while changes to pay structures and teachers’ pension schemes have made it a less attractive profession and have left existing teachers worse off.
Schools are having to make staff cuts and employ non-teachers to save money and now it is reported some heads are asking parents to chip in financially. This state of affairs is unprecedented.
If the Government really does care about investing in our future, it should be investing in our children.
Diane Silva, Lytham, Lancs
How long will the working people of this country be prepared to accept the cruel and unfair cuts imposed on them by a Tory Government that only works for the richest in society?
It’s not enough for the nasty party to target the sick, disabled, low paid and anyone on benefits, now some schools even need the parents to help buy books. Theresa May said she wanted a society that works for all. She also said a future Labour government would bankrupt the country. That’s rich, considering the Tories have increased the national debt by more than 50% in the past seven years, despite austerity.
Keith Westwood, via email
How can Theresa May tell so many bare-faced lies? She talks of wanting to create a fairer society while the NHS is crippled by lack of funds, welfare cuts are targeting the disabled and now we read our schools are skint.
Yet MPs continue to claim expenses and get subsidised food and drink in the restaurants of Westminster, while the filthy rich put their cash in legal tax havens. It’s not fair by a million miles, Mrs May.
M A Yaxley, Plymouth
Why does learning require so much money these days? I picked up books and started learning via correspondence and taught myself my A-level courses some 43 years ago. It isn’t rocket science. Trouble is, everyone has unreasonable expectations and wants it on a plate.