Schools ‘under threat from cutbacks and political meddling’
SCOTLAND’s biggest teaching union has savaged the SNP’s proposed education reforms.
The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) criticised under-funding of schools and political interference.
The EIS response to a Scottish Government review of how schools are run also suggests that the consultation may be rushed to meet ‘political rather than educational imperatives’.
The union raises concerns about schools being burdened with administrative functions; criticises the ‘increasingly politicised role of [SNP quango] Education Scotland within Scottish education’; and rejects the SNP’s suggestions of a restructuring of local government responsibility for schools as ‘not useful’.
It also describes the new standardised testing regime – a key part of Nicola Sturgeon’s flagship education reforms – as ‘regressive’ and ‘counterproductive’.
Last night Scottish Labour education spokesman Iain Gray said: ‘Coming after a brutal assessment of the SNP’s record on education is this damning verdict on their so-called “reforms” for the future.
‘These rushed reforms won’t help our schools – what will is giving our schools the resources they need to deliver a world-class education.’
The EIS also voiced concern over the increasingly politicised role of Education Scotland within education.
The union’s submission said: ‘With the role of the Inspectorate having been brought closer to Government, questions remain about the independence of the inspection process
‘Questions over independence’
and its relationship to government policy, and concerns have emerged more recently regarding the capacity of Education Scotland to provide sound, evidence-based advice to inform government policy.’
The union said Education Scotland, which is in charge of curriculum development and school inspection, ‘appears, publicly at least, to be politically compliant’.
The submission continues: ‘At times it is difficult to see where the remit of Education Scotland ends and that of the [Scottish Government’s] Learning Directorate begins.
‘The greatest barrier [to achieving the vision of excellence and equity for all] is and has been the imposition of austerity-driven budgets and the under-funding of the Scottish education system over the past period.’
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘The EIS have made a constructive contribution to our consultation on school governance and we will consider their submission.’