Schools all over the country are losing valuable members
of staff, because of the crazy way they are funded.
The government claim there is money available for the schools
to use, unfortunately they have to use it in the way it has been designated.
For instance, there is money available for building, fitting
out new or old classrooms, books and equipment. Sounds great doesn't it?
The trouble is there isn't money available to pay salaries
for the teaching staff!!!!
Last year we reported parents' views about the government's
proposals to close schools for pupils with moderate learning difficulties and
to include children with special educational needs into mainstream schools.
Many parents at that time were convinced that this was the
totally wrong course for their children. Parents felt there must be a choice
for children with moderate learning difficulties to either attend a mainstream
school if they were able to cope with it, or to continue the specialised education
at the school for moderate learning difficulties.
There was a strong campaign mounted, to try to make their
opinions not only heard but also heeded. Unfortunately, it seemed parents' wishes
were ignored or disregarded.
(How do these people have so much confidence to believe they know best for other
parents and their children?)
It is well over a year since the campaign was mounted, but
the closer the time comes for their children to be uprooted the more anxious
some parents have become.
Given the current situation in schools and the issue of funding,
it’s no wonder they are anxious. So now come the questions:
IF there isn't money to pay for the staff needed in schools
at the moment, teachers will be lost; then surely the class sizes will become
larger due to this fact? Putting even more pressure on overstretched staff.
Therefore the standard of education will fall.
If the schools for special educational needs close, where
will the teachers from these schools be placed? If there is no money to pay
the already existing staff, it isn't feasible that the schools take on extra
staff for the purpose of teaching children with special educational needs.
It was promised during the campaign that the necessary training
would be given to staff in mainstream schools, to enable them to teach children
with special educational needs. How on earth can this happen with the current
situation?
Surely the ministers need to look more carefully at the implications
of this and maybe even reconsider the closure of these specialised establishments?
Go on we will admire you for it.
Kathryn Bates
