Just Jackie - Jackie Baillie MSP

Published 10 Mar 2010 09:51

I AM outraged at the decision last week by the Scottish Government to slash the budget for a new Dumbarton Academy by nearly half before the project has even begun.

It has been only a matter of months since the Scottish Government announced that it would rebuild Dumbarton Academy.

The new school would cost approximately £30m, with the Scottish Government contributing two-thirds of this amount.

However, the SNP's plans were leaked to me last week - they were slashing their funding from the promised £20m to about £11m.

Fiona Hyslop, the former cabinet secretary for Education was the one who announced that the school building programme would consist of a 66 per cent contribution from the Government and a 33 per cent contribution from local councils.

It would seem that the SNP needs to go back to school and do its sums because 66 per cent of £30m is not £11m.

The SNP made a promise to the people of Dumbarton that it would provide £30m for the rebuilding of the school.

To nearly half that amount is an insult to the pupils, parents and teachers in this area.

It was the previous Labour executive which planned and commissioned the new Vale of Leven Academy and two brand new Clydebank high schools.

It is the current SNP administration that is compromising the potential of the new Dumbarton Academy to match the quality and excellence of the above schools.

I will continue to fight for funding that will deliver the kind of top class learning facility that the young people and families in Dumbarton deserve.

IT is deeply concerning that West Dunbartonshire Council is considering disbanding the acclaimed Early Intervention and Network Support teams.

The Early Intervention team has taken a lead role in tackling illiteracy in West Dunbartonshire and has received national and international praise for the results it has received.

There is a worrying trend in the number of young children who are not learning how to read and write effectively.

West Dunbartonshire emerged as one of the few examples of a local authority that was getting this right with the Early Intervention team.

Now the SNP is proposing cutting a programme which has helped hundreds of young people in this council area equip themselves with the essential skills of reading and writing.

It would appear that it is not only the SNP's sums that do not add up, but it is also bottom of the class for helping our young children progress.

OFFICIAL figures published by the Scottish Government last week show the number of murders committed using knives has hit a three-year high.

The figures also reveal the proportion of people killed using a sharp instrument has also reached a five-year high.

You only have to read the local papers in this area to understand that knife crime is a persistent problem that is not going away.

How many people need to die or be injured by thugs wielding knives before the SNP realises that urgent action is needed?

Labour is clear on the message that should be sent to communities across Scotland, "if you carry a knife, you go to jail".

We will legislate to make that happen.

Tweet

This article appeared in Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter 10 Mar 10

Follow @dumbartonreport

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our Opinion archives.