NUT Cymru is calling for greater Assembly Government control of money meant for schools and given to the 22 local authorities in Wales to distribute locally. Speaking about a recent letter sent by Jane Davidson to schools and local education authorities, NUT Cymru Secretary David Evans said;

“We welcome the Minister’s comment that she ‘expects’ applied efficiency gains deductions not to exceed 0.3% of the school budget. However, that is only an expectation. In recent years the Minister has given clear guidance to local authorities about keeping money intended for schools supposedly for what they have called ‘efficiency savings’. On each occasion many authorities have received the guidance and then ignored it.

“This money is important to education provision in Wales. A so-called efficiency saving of 0.3% can represent the salary of a teacher in an average sized Primary. It can be several teachers in an average sized Comprehensive.

“If that money is intended for schools then that is where it should be spent. Schools should decide where they can make savings. They should not have an arbitrary cut forced upon them. Schools are already scrambling around for every penny. Reducing their income only serves to force Heads into making decisions that they should never be forced to make. They may have to cut back on teaching and support staff. They may be unable to buy the necessary resources and materials. In the end it is the pupil who suffers. It is a false economy and has to stop.

“Local government settlements are currently being finalized and schools are bracing themselves for another hard round of negotiations and potential redundancies. In advance of the Assembly elections it is time for the Welsh Assembly Government to flex its muscles on this issue.”