Schooling plans ‘not examined’ EXCLUSIVE
BY PAUL HUTCHEON
COUNCIL education committees have failed to meet in the last three months to discuss the future of schooling.
Calls have been made for the committees to be kick-started to scrutinise plans for combining home and school learning.
Martin McElroy, a Labour councillor in Glasgow, said: “The technology already exists that would allow these meetings to go ahead safely. If the local knitting club in my community has the wherewithal to meet remotely, why not Glasgow City Council?”
Education Secretary John Swinney has announced plans for schools to reopen on August 11. But his proposed “blended” model of education is worrying parents, who fear they’ll struggle to juggle work and schooling.
Councils are responsible for producing local reopening plans. But many committees were suspended in March.
Glasgow’s education committee last met on March 12 and the next meeting, according to the council website, is scheduled for mid-August.
Aberdeen Council’s education committee last met on March 12, and the relevant committees in South Lanarkshire and Fife met in March and February.
A spokesperson for council umbrella group COSLA said: “At the start of the pandemic, many councils temporarily suspended governance arrangements.
“Elected members have continued their role in oversight and scrutiny through emergency committees and the majority of councils have either returned to normal governance structures remotely or are working towards that goal.”