Educatilon: Decentralise & Improve The System: MSP
In the Education debate ‘Smarter Scotland’ held in Holyrood on 20 June Tory MSP Murdo Fraser set out the priorities of the Scottish Conservatives to improve education for Scotland’s youngsters. He also raised the issue that, in Perth & Kinross, there has been 160 applications for 12 teaching vacancies, stating that newly-qualified teachers are considering leaving the profession due to the lack of jobs available in the area.
In the Chamber, the MSP said: “As the recently appointed Conservative Spokesman on Education and Lifelong Learning, I welcome the opportunity afforded to us today to debate issues around Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills. I do hope that there will be much common ground between the parties. I know that the SNP are keen to promote smaller class sizes and also the idea of early intervention. As a general rule, the Conservatives would always be sympathetic to smaller class sizes, but we certainly do not think that should be the be all and end all of education policy.
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Class Sizes
“One issue related to smaller class sizes is that of lack of employment for new teachers completing their probationary period. I understand that in the Perth & Kinross Council area, there have been 160 applications for a mere dozen vacancies. Some newly-qualified teachers are even talking about having to return to their previous professions, having sacrificed a great deal to go and retrain.
“I want to see greater devolution of power to Head Teachers, to School Boards or Parent Councils and to schools themselves. We regret the decision taken by the previous Executive to scrap School Boards and replace them with Parent Councils. I believe that the way to raise standards in education is to put greater trust in the management at a school level.”
Decentralise Decisions
“As a general principle, decisions should be taken as close to parents, teachers and pupils as possible, rather than being taken by distant Education Authorities - or worse still by a distant Education Minister,” he urged.
“There has to be a serious approach taken to the question of discipline. We do know that there is a growing indiscipline problem in Scotland’s schools, and the policies pursued by the previous administration did not help that. It is time to return to Head Teachers and local schools control over discipline and that is the way we are going to turn this problem around.
“I do believe that there is a good deal of common ground between all the parties in relation to educational issues. Some of what the new Executive will be trying to do will find favour with us and, when it does, we will be happy to give our support. Where we see failure to address serious issues, we will not hesitate to hold them to account. I hope in that way we can all contribute to bringing about a better education system for all Scotland’s children.”
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