Scotland’s largest teaching union has warned cuts to school budgets could have a “catastrophic” impact on primary and nursery schools in Fife.
The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) said it could leave schools short of textbooks and other learning resources, and impact on staff training.
Fife EIS publicity officer David Farmer said teachers are facing a difficult 2015-16 as Fife Council’s education service announced to schools it was now implementing a 1.5% cut in Devolved School Management (DSM) budgets.
This cut was originally intimated in February 2014.
However, its implementation will now mean a cut of £2.5 million in 2015-16.
Mr Farmer said: “Whatever the historical provenance of this cut, Fife EIS deplores the fact that head teachers in nursery, primary and secondary schools were reminded of this only weeks before the summer holidays.
“Fife EIS fears that the cut will impact directly on supply/cover budgets in schools, the A-allocation budget through which schools purchase text books and other learning resources, other supplies and services and the CPD budget, which funds staff training and professional development.
“These are vital areas in the delivery of education.
“In large secondary schools where there might be a DSM carry-over there will be some ability to offset part of this cut.
“In the primary and nursery sector, where schools might not have a carry-over, the effects of this cut might be catastrophic.
“This cut will impact directly on the delivery of education. No matter how creative head teachers might try to be there will be a direct effect.”
Mr Farmer thanked closure-marked Tullis Russell for their generous donations of paper to Fife schools in recent weeks, but he added: “We wonder if we are heading towards a situation where donations will soon form an integral part of resourcing education for our children.”
Craig Munro, Fife Council executive director of education and children services, said: “Teachers have of course taken free supplies of paper from Tullis Russell, but this is not due to lack of paper or learning resources in schools.
“In the budget this year the council fully protected schools. There were no cuts to school staffing budgets.
“The issue that has been raised relates to last year a budget decision taken in February 2014.
“The 1.5% cut from devolved budgets taken last year was initially taken off the school underspends.
“It has been a discussion point throughout the whole of last year with head teachers about how best to do this and we have been working through how best to apply the changes while still giving schools the ability to prioritise spend locally.”