A scathing opening speech from Welsh Shadow Minister for
Education, , launched a debate in the
Senedd today in the latest move by Welsh Conservatives to back
schools and campaign for the Welsh Government to improve funding
for the country’s struggling education system.
The debate strove to challenge the current flawed funding formula
used in Wales, by which money is allocated by the Welsh
Government local councils, and then by councils on to schools.
The passionate debate from several members of the opposition
Cabinet came in the wake of an open letter published last week by
the Association of School and College Leaders, in which they
described a ‘severe funding crisis’ in Welsh schools.
The Welsh Government formula has led to a postcode lottery of
school funding, with £450 million never reaching the classroom
thanks to a totally non-transparent system which, according to
the NASUWT teachers’ union and despite the Barnett Formula, sees
pupils in Wales receiving £645 less per head than those in
England.
Teachers are reporting an ever-increasingly desperate situation,
with too few staff leading to the potential need to increase
class sizes, the cutting of non-compulsory activities, a strain
on Additional Learning Needs support at a time when the Welsh
Government’s own ALN code is being considered, and some schools
even complaining of damaged buildings with no money for
renovations.
Welsh Conservatives sought to ‘flush out’ evidence from the
Minister for Education, , about school funding ahead
of an upcoming Children, Young People and Education Committee
inquiry into the matter.
Mrs Davies asked the Minister to reveal exactly how the
effectiveness of the funding formula is evaluated, and to
consider its clear flaws, but the Minister and the Welsh
Labour-led Government again brushed off the concerns of a system
in ‘crisis’ voiced by teachers and governors from across the
country.
Speaking outside the chamber, added:
“There’s no point pretending everything is OK in the system,
because our constituents are telling us something different.
“This is not about austerity, it’s about what happens to the
money once it leaves Welsh Government hands.
“That’s what schools are complaining about, and their cries are
so loud. Being dismissed by the Minister in this way will make
their cries all the louder.”
