An MSP has hit out at opposition politicians for letting £1 million to close the attainment gap in Dundee “slip through their fingers”.
Jenny Marra, a Dundee-based Labour MSP, said it was “disgraceful” the Scottish Government would be “clawing back” half of a £2.14m allocation because Dundee City Council did not spend it in time.
The SNP administration announced the war chest for Dundee in 2015/16 to raise educational standards in the city’s most deprived areas.
But the city council insists the money has not been lost and can be claimed through the following year’s Attainment Scotland Fund pot.
Ms Marra said the city council should have made its plans earlier, while the Education Secretary should show some flexibility.
Stewart Hunter, Dundee’s education convener, said the full allocation could not be claimed because the bulk of the money, allocated in the financial year from April, could not be spent until the school year starts in August.
Marra: £1m ‘wasted’ in bid to close attainment gap
