Tuesday 18 March 2008

Education ignored in the Budget

The latest Budget from the Labour Government is just bad news for so many people. The budget cannot hide the high debt, high interest rates, higher taxes and now lower growth across the country. The tax take will be £2.8bn a year higher by 2010, which is £110 more for every family.

Most leading economists believe there will be a downturn in the months ahead...and we are badly prepared. Nothing has been put aside to help deal with the bad times and the cost of living is already rising fast.

So what was in this budget?
- Biggest alcohol tax rise for a generation
- 70% of motorists will pay more Vehicle Excise Duty
- Borrowing levels have soared (£7bn higher next year than this)
- Growth is down
- Ignored public opinion on a national road pricing scheme and it will go ahead
- No new money for key areas e.g. education and defence

What more are we getting for our money? In my view.....nothing!

What we need is a new Conservative Government and George Osborne as the new Chancellor.

2 comments:

Allan said...

Well, said, Mary. As a school governor, the issue of education must touch you personally. I too am seriously concerned about the philosophy of throwing tons of money at education only to see the world's OFSTED report that Britain's reading and maths are down over the last ten years. Sigh.....

As a student of mathematics and science myself, I am particularly moved by the poor state of British science education.

The only specific mention of education was that the government would increase investment in improving GCSE results by 200 million pounds and science education by 30 million pounds. That is laughable and damningly revealing. The prioritisation of basic, tangibly measured results over long-term intangible steps is philosophically wrong and frankly myopic. More stunning is the meagre 30 million pounds for improving science education. That is smallest, cheapest fare I have seen. As a school governor, Mary, you probably know that 30 million pounds is hardly enough to even start ONE new academy. It is also the equivalent of paying 1000 new teachers for one year, or, 1.5 new teachers for every parliamentary constituency. What sort of improvement is that? It's no time for baby steps. Incrementalism cannot be the Tory byword when it comes to science education.

Moreover, what sort of future is that for the city or canary wharf, whose bankers rely on London's special high skills set, particularly in mathematics and technology?

It did not escape my notice that about a year ago, a Tory study group came out with a series of measures to improve science education. I thought of it as far superior to Labour proposals, but still mediocre. I have not heard of it being declared as official Tory policy or even being mentioned since.

Will you, Mary, address how you intend to push for vastly improved science education when you are elected?

Cheers,
Allan

Mary Macleod said...

You raise a really good point. Given that most of our manufacturing has disappeared and also many of our service industry jobs are being offshored to India ...how will Britain develop and grow in the future.

My personal view is that it will be in entrepreneurship, innovation, technology and R&D. Science will be crucial to this, so the more we can encourage young people into science, all the better.

I have to admit though...that science was not my strong point in school!

I will look out the report on improving science education. In the meantime, do pass on to me any ideas you have.