Plaid welcomes education review
Plaid Cymru AM Dr. Dai Lloyd has welcomed plans by the Assembly Government to review how education in Wales is funded.
The One Wales Government has announced that an independent review will be held on how schools, colleges and universities in Wales are financed, with the ultimate aim of reducing bureaucracy and channelling funding directly into education.
Dr. Lloyd, Plaid’s Local Government Spokesperson, stated:
“The way that we deliver our key public services over the next few years is going to be vital in protecting front line services.
“With the Assembly Government and Local Authorities likely to face a funding squeeze over the next few years as a result of the recession, it is vital that we review the systems that we have in place to deliver our public services.
“We have seen a reorganisation within the Welsh NHS, which will hopefully lead to a more streamlined service in future years – the education system must also stand up to the same level of scrutiny.
“Swansea Council, like most across Wales is undergoing school reorganisation changes which aim to reduce the numbers of surplus places, and while that in itself may bring financial gains, those gains may not be sufficient given the possible scale of cutbacks in the public sector.
“Many schools are in debt and are operating with a budget deficit. To address this problem, we must ensure that we cut out bureaucracy and that as much money as possible goes to the frontline rather than being tied up in Administrative systems.
“I look forward to the review findings and would urge all Councils, including Swansea, to make representations to the Minister.”
