Proposed cost cuts ‘Dickensian’ – union

Council moves to allay fears, insisting no decisions taken

Proposals to impose swingeing cuts to Fife’s education service have been dubbed “truly Dickensian” by a teaching union.

School uniform grants, breakfast cafés, holiday clubs and instrument tuition could all be axed or drastically cut back under the proposals.

Fife EIS publicity officer David Farmer said the suggestions in the document, put together by Fife Council officers ahead of the 2018-19 budget, would harm some of the region’s neediest families. “For the poor, for the most vulnerable, the potential for even harder times is writ large,” he said.

Education and children’s services director Carrie Lindsay stressed the internal working document was merely a series of proposals for discussions and that no decisions had been taken.

“Some ideas will not go forward at all,” she added.

School clothing grants may face the axe and funding for breakfast and holiday clubs could be slashed as part of swingeing education budget cuts being considered by Fife Council.

Funding for instrument tuition and early years teachers could also be cut, according to an internal working document which has emerged.

Education chiefs have insisted the negotiations are still at a very early stage and some ideas may not even go to councillors for a decision.

However, EIS teaching union spokesman David Farmer said: “There seem to be, at a time when much is made of supporting the poorest and most vulnerable, some direct attacks on those we should actually be protecting.”

He also hit out at the notion of cuts to the number of early years teachers.

“We wonder how the proposals to make major changes to pupil support services can continue to support those young people effectively when the cumulative savings run into millions.”

Education and children’s services director Carrie Lindsay stressed the proposals for 2018-19 were part of an internal report, being used as a tool to open up discussions on the future of the service.

“The ideas contained within it have been prepared by officers and no decisions have been taken by members,” she said. “Some ideas will not go forward at all. “We’re confident our staff will work with us for the best outcomes possible.”

There seem to be... some direct attacks on those we should actually be protecting