Ross Thomson
proposal to use PEF to upskill classroom assistants was rejected by the Scottish Government, with ministers threatening to withhold the entire £8.8 million fund.
NLC education convener Frank McNally said: “It is quite astonishing that it is one rule for the SNP in Glasgow and another for Labour in North Lanarkshire when it comes to PEF.
“Educationalists were clear that our plans to upskill classroom assistants would have had a positive impact on closing the poverty-related attainment gap in our schools, yet these were rejected out of hand by the SNP Government ahead of the council election.
“Incredibly, we subsequently find out that the ruling SNP Group at Glasgow City Council aim to use PEF to pay for janitors, with no concerns raised by ministers.
“Thankfully, we were able to redeploy those classroom assistants affected and the majority remain as council employees but it is surely time for the SNP in North Lanarkshire and SNP Government Ministers to apologise to those impacted by the changes for blocking our ambitious plans.
“It was clearly an appalling act of political opportunism in the lead up to May’s council election.”
The SNP described Councillor McNally’s comments as “embarrassing” adding that Glasgow City Council’s plans had been quickly ruled out by the SNP deputy council leader.
Nats education spokesman Tom Johnston said: “Labour knew what they were trying to do was wrong and Frank McNally is embarrassing himself by continuing to attempt to justify it.
“The additional funding to schools is for headteachers to spend on the specific needs of the children in their school, not for the council to pay existing wage bills.
“The SNP attempted to stop the cut to classroom assistants but were defeated by the Labour/Tory administration and we are already seeing the detrimental impact it is having on children and young people throughout North Lanarkshire.
“Councillor McNally should acknowledge his mistakes, apologise and take the necessary steps to reintroduce classroom assistants to their previous levels.”