Time is running out for closure-hit schools
TIME is running out for parents to save the eleven island schools earmarked for closure by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.
Protesters now have less than a week to make last ditch cases against closure to the Scottish Government. If their pleas are successful, the school closure plans for June 2012 will be called in by Holyrood for further consideration.
Earmarked for the axe at the start of the school summer holidays in 2012 are Balallan, Bragar, Carloway, Cross, Sandwickhill, Scalpay and Shelibost schools, and the two year secondary schools at Daliburgh, Lionel and Shawbost. Stoneybridge School is set to close in June next year.
Leader of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Angus Campbell, has defended the decisions taken by the council.
He said: “It is important for people to understand the process which we have been through in reaching these decisions. It has been a long, considered process in which we have consulted extensively.
Mr Campbell added that it should also be noted that whilst there will be an impact on some communities, the proposed closures affect 6.4% of the pupil population, leaving over 93% of pupils unaffected. In addition, the HMiE identified educational benefits for pupils at all the schools concerned.
The SNP group on the council welcomed the support of MSP Alasdair Allan for their opposition to the council’s school closure decisions.
SNP councillors have consistently expressed concern about the council’s consultation process including the “so-called community conversations”.
An SNP spokesperson said: “The definition of Consultation as specified in the Consultation Charter is; Consultation is the dynamic process of dialogue between individuals or groups, based upon a genuine exchange of views, with the objective of influencing decisions, policies or programmes of action.
“Simply meeting people, recording what they say and going ahead with an unaltered process, does not meet the definition of consultation as set out in the Charter.”
Submissions to the Scottish Government about school closures must be made by next Wednesday (November 24th).
Michael Russell is the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning and if you would like to raise your concerns with him about school closures in the Western Isles we have included a sample email below that you can forward to him at: Michael.Russell.msp@scottish.parliament.uk
Proposed closure of 11 rural schools in the Western Isles
Dear Mr Russell,
I write to you in regards to the closure of our local school, …....NAME OF SCHOOL...................
in the Western Isles.
Despite vocal protests and grave concerns in our community that such a closure will have a detrimental effect; driving upwards the speed of depopulation, with the loss of young families from the area, our local Council, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has decided to press ahead with the closure.
We are dissatisfied with the level of consultation the Council has had within the community; it is not enough to listen to our concerns, but then forge ahead with the original decision. Some investigation must be taken of the arguments being put forward by the community and the findings presented back to the people before a decision is taken.
The Western Isles is in an extremely fragile state: how are we to attract people to come and live in our rural areas if there are no school facilities locally for children?
How are we to attract commercial investment in our rural areas, when there are no local customers for products, or people to make up a workforce?
How will our communities and culture survive if there are no schools, jobs or housing?
Schools are the heart of any community, without them our population will surely leach away and not return. The decision of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar to close........NAME OF SCHOOL........is a short-sighted cost saving enterprise.
Instead of closing our schools we need to be investing in them to ensure each individual community has a linchpin at its centre around which other enterprises and developments can orbit.
If the Western Isles is not to become barren it is essential that a positive long term vision is realised in every decision about infrastructure – the decision to close..........NAME OF SCHOOL.......... is wrong and we ask you to throw your weight behind calling in this decision for further consideration by Ministers.
Our local Council has let the people of the Western Isles down on this matter and we ask that central government lead the way in helping to keep our rural areas alive and vibrant.
Yours Sincerely
….....................NAME........................
…...............ADDRESS........................
…................DATE...............................
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Friday 25 May 2012
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