Paisley Daily Express Column

Paisley Daily Express Column - 9 Dec 2009

ST PAUL’S DOES US PROUD BUT TEACHER CUTS REACH CRISIS POINT

Last week I visited St Paul’s Primary in Foxbar on the day the Literacy Commission published its report on literacy in Scotland.

That report made sobering reading and reminded us all of the challenge we face to tackle illiteracy across Scotland.
The Commission, which included author Ian Rankin, found that 18.5% of children in Scotland leave primary school without being functionally literate some 13,000 youngsters a year.

At St. Paul’s I met committed staff and engaging pupils. The “Achievement Wall” on the ground floor was a testimony to the pupils’ hard work and the teachers dedicated efforts.

Yet seeing their efforts actually made me angry that their dedication and commitment is not being matched by support from the SNP led Renfrewshire Council or the SNP Scottish Government.

My visit came just a week after new figures showed the number of teachers here in Renfrewshire has been slashed by 210 leaving Renfrewshire with the worst pupil teacher ratio in Scotland. As a conscious choice, the SNP led Council have cut £10.6m from the local education budget over the last two years.

And last week, as the Scottish Government education policy descended into a farce, with the sacking of the Education Minister, we discovered that teacher cuts are now happening across the country. New figures revealed that the total number of teachers in Scotland has fallen by 1348 over the past year, despite an SNP manifesto pledge in 2007 to maintain numbers.

What is even more shameful is that these numbers revealed that SNP led Renfrewshire Council has cut teachers more than three times as fast as the rest of Scotland; If the Council had cut teachers at the same rate as the rest of the Councils across the country just 67 and not 210 teachers would have gone.

As someone who went to both primary and secondary school here in Renfrewshire I care about our local schools. And I’m angry that after years of investment with new schools like Todholm Primary, Glennifer High School and St. Andrews High School rebuilt completely, pupils progress is now threatened by the action of a Council determined to cut back apparently the very teachers we need to ensure local children develop literacy and other key skills.

Surely it’s time the Council leadership took a leaf out of our hardworking teacher’s book, and made Renfrewshire pupils their priority.

LOLLIPOP PERSON OF THE YEAR

I was absolutely delighted to hear that a local lollipop man won the title of Lollipop Person of the Year 2009.

John Foley is the lollipop man at Bushes Primary School in Glenburn and he beat over 19 000 entrants to win the accolade.

Mr Foley, a former firefighter is described by staff at the school as being ‘one in a million’.

He has won the holiday of a lifetime worth £1500 whilst Bushes win £3000 to spend on school equipment.

I would like to offer my own personal congratulations to Mr Foley.

Working with children and keeping them safe on the roads is a vitally important job and hardworking people like Mr Foley do Paisley proud.

HAVE YOUR JAB

I had to nip in to a chemist on the Glasgow Road at the weekend for some cold tablets. It was a reminder of the importance of this year’s seasonal flu immunisation campaign It aims to make sure those aged 65 and over and people with certain medical conditions receive the free jab.

If you have a grandparent, an aunt or an elderly friend, or know with someone with a chronic illness such as asthma or diabetes, let them know that the vaccine is available. You could be saving a life.

This year the vaccination programme includes all those over 65 and people with chronic illnesses - the most vulnerable people at this time of year.

Flu can be a deadly disease so if you are in one of the vulnerable categories it is vital to make sure you will be protected this winter.

If you have not yet had a jab or are unsure if you are in one of the vulnerable categories then call your GP to find out.

HOWWOOD LIGHTS UP

At the weekend I joined villagers in Howwood for the annual switching on of the Christmas lights. Despite the freezing temperatures it was a heart warming gathering at the Triangle.