Claims that proposed school closures are a “pathetic political game” have been angrily denied by Fife Council’s leader.
As reported by The Courier, the SNP accused the administration of a “shameful betrayal of Fife’s children” when the council outlined recommendations for school closures and mergers in Glenrothes, Dunfermline, North-East Fife and South-West Fife.
Next Tuesday, the council’s executive committee will be asked to consider talks with parents, pupils and the public on the school estate proposals.
However, council leader Alex Rowley, pictured, has hit back, accusing Fife SNP group leader Peter Grant of hypocrisy, saying he had previously agreed with the need for schools to close.
Mr Rowley said: “Mr Grant sought and was given an assurance some months ago from the director of education that the report on the review of the school estate would be free from political interference and be the professional opinions and advice.
“So he knows that the report being brought forward is the recommendations of a review by the education service and its director.
“Therefore, his vitriolic rant against the Labour administration is deliberately misleading as it has no basis in the facts and is totally untrue.
“It is also important to remember that when this guy was council leader and was asked at an EIS meeting about the school estate, he said that schools in Fife would have to close.
“His then-education spokesperson stated publicly that schools would need to close. The facts are that there are too many children being taught in buildings that are in a poor condition.
“There are too many schools with empty classrooms, there are some children having more than £17,000 per year spent on their education, while many others are as low as £3,000.
“The advice of the education officials is that this can no longer be ignored and the school estate is not, in its present form, sustainable and is in desperate need of investment.”
Mr Rowley added: “Mr Grant, when he was leader, along with his SNP colleagues chose to cut maths and English teachers, classroom assistants, playground supervisors and frontline school budgets.
“So you can bury your head in the sand and not address the issues of the school estate and instead cut frontline education, or you can look in a calm and rational way at how to make the school estate fit for purpose and focus the scarce council resources on fewer buildings and on children and their education.
“I would appeal to Mr Grant and his SNP colleagues to stop the game-playing, the untruths, the vitriolic attacks on other councillors and the headline-grabbing.
“Behave in a responsible manner in examining the facts and issues being brought forward by the director of education and the education directorate.
“The option of doing nothing is always on the table but I do say that sooner or later, someone must show the courage and give the leadership needed to address this issue and focus our investment on a 21st Century education service that will deliver for all the children of Fife.”
Mr Rowley added councillors in the wards affected by the proposed school closures had been briefed at a private session on Monday. All other councillors became aware of the proposals when they were made public on Tuesday.
Fife Council’s Labour councillors will discuss the issues for the first time at a special Labour group meeting.