Education Minister Leighton Andrews tells Tomos Dafydd on BBC Wales Today questions must be asked about organisation of education in Wales.Hmmm..."Welsh Assembly Government procedures".
Education Minister Leighton Andrews says a Carmarthenshire school staying open with no pupils is "bonkers".
He blamed the local council for Capel Iwan primary, near Newcastle Emlyn, staying open, even though its 12 pupils left in July.
He said: "If I had the powers, I would tell them to close it."
But the council said the school had had no warning pupils were not returning next term and it had to stick to Welsh Assembly Government procedures.
Andrews:
Mr Andrews put the blame for the situation squarely with the local authority, and told BBC Wales: "It's entirely the fault of the local council. They have known for some time that this school was losing numbers.Would Leighton Edward's department not have such a breakdown of school numbers Wales-wide? Even if that isn't the case, effective communication links between the minister and the local authorities isn't only a one way responsibility surely?
"As I understand it, the [consultation] process has not started yet. There is not a role for the assembly government unless the process starts.
"Why didn't they start the process about a year ago? Why didn't they start the process at the beginning of this year, when there were only 13 pupils on the register?
10 comments:
Proving that Yes Minster was a documentary, and not fiction
Does Mr Andrews live in England, but send his children to a selective school in Wales under the "granny rule" rather than an English comprehensive, only to then attempt to demolish selection, without any viable alternative plans, once he becomes Welsh education minister?
If not, I'd say he's got a long, long way to go before he even comes close to Catriona...
Peter,
"If not, I'd say he's got a long, long way to go before he even comes close to Catriona..."
I am going to play Devil's Advocate here, not by trying to claim that Ms Ruane has any kind of clue but by saying why did the other parties let such a situation develop?
Why did the Unionist parties not choose the Education portfolio as their 1st or 2nd choice, after all it's of more crucial importance long term than, for example, culture. The reason was that they knew it was a poisonous chalice, falling rolls means closing schools whoever's in charge and whoever's in charge has a responsibility re the provision of integrated/Irish langauge etc schools. The UUP and DUP ran away from the challenge and left it to SF to pick it up with, what we know now, disasterous effects.
O'Neill
There is nothing wrong with Caitríona Ruane's performance. The Stormont committee system is not geared up to accept change, and she has been prepared to try anyway. As you say, no other party was up for the challenge.
These articles that I wrote highlight that in terms of how I'd like to see our education system evolving there's not a world of difference between myself and MS Ruane:
http://educationforallni.blogspot.com/2009/02/education-for-all-finnish-example.html
http://openunionism.wordpress.com/2009/09/15/education-a-less-selective-debate-needed/
However, there's one thing having targets and quite another having the personal skills, administrative ability, nous and plain common sense to achieve those targets. Ruane fails on all four levels there- the fact that she has her own minder O'Dowd is surely proof of that.
I was originally criticising Catriona on the grounds of rank hypocrisy, rather than of performance. However, since the debate seems to have been moved onto her performance, iI'll add my two cents worth.
I'd guess that "anonymouus" wishes to remain so to cover his embarrassment at having to type the words "There is nothing wrong with Caitríona Ruane's performance". When will Shinners realise that when not addressing their sheep electorate, you simply can't get away with the old "black is white and white is black" lies? Few in NI are as credulous as your voters.
O'Neill, I agree that a unionist should have opted for education, as SF had made their position clear. Where I disagree is that education was such a poisoned chalice. There is nothing to suggest that there was any groundswell of public opinion in favour of scrapping the 11+, the system could simply have been maintained as was, without any great controversy.
Regarding Irish language schools and integrated schools, you may have more of a point, but the new austerity might well have solved at least the first issue pretty easily.
As I've said before, I'm not convinced by the Scandanavian education approach and its emphasis on mediocrity. On the other hand, nor am I impressed with many of the NI secondary schools, where failure in the 11+ condemns too many to substandard learning experiences and subsequent economic and social ills. The nettle to grasp would be root-and-brach integration of the secondary school sector, with the requisite resources both financial and in terms of proven teaching talent. This would provide a double whammy of improving the prospects of less academically gifted pupils and as a hugely useful bit of social engineering
Peteram79
Since you didn't leave me your mobile number, address, and email address I will assume that you too are happy to be anonymous (or is the use of a pseudonym, the new transarency).
As for integration, it only works where parents want it. In middle class pockets where everybody pretends that we are all the same.
I am not sure that you will be any happier if the DUP or UUP take up the baton. Only a year to find out. Next up for the Education rollercoaster ... ... ... anybody? Anyone? Oh, I guess SF will have to do it again so.
"As for integration, it only works where parents want it. In middle class pockets where everybody pretends that we are all the same."
An argument the pro-selection lobby also uses- so in your opinion whereas segregation of children on the grounds of religion is good, segregation of children on grounds of academic ability is bad?
Re Ruane's performance, can you list 5 concrete achievements she's managed during her time at education?
I am not sure I could list 5 achievements of the whole assembley to be honest.
I don't have an issue with 11+/academic selection or streaming, provided it is not run by or subsidised by the State.
"I am not sure I could list 5 achievements of the whole assembley to be honest."
Fair point
"I don't have an issue with 11+/academic selection or streaming, provided it is not run by or subsidised by the State."
I do have an issue with it (as illustrated with the 2 links I provided) but in the end we live in a democracy, so if the parents are prepared to pay for it then not a lot I cam do about it...
I would however run exactly the same argument with "faith" schools.
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