School funding crises since 2015 still expected to affect four in five schools next year, despite government spending plans. The 12% cut in schools funding has crippled educational activities as well as teachers’ welfare.
School funding cut in 2015
At the eve of the election in 2015, schools were planning ahead of the announced 12% school funding cut. The three major parties gave a different commitment to school funding, but it still required the 12% cut. The reduction in school funding resulted in job losses and redundancies, scrapping of General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) and A-level courses, and an eventual increase in class sizes.
Hope for school budget
It was announced by the government last month that school funding budget will be increased to £7.1 billion by 2022. This increment is forestalled to help schools recover from the cuts in 2015. But, School Cuts say the increment will still leave four in five schools, about 16,000 schools lacking behind.
The union addressing the Conservative party conference in Manchester today mentioned the issue of school budget. In their speech, it was cited that despite the promised increment in school funding, an additional £2.5 billion is needed to reverse the challenges the cuts have had on schools since 2015.
Inclusive in the school funding increment is an amount designated for special needs students, £700 million. The School Cuts coalition objects the sufficiency of the funds to cater for mainstream school pupils and the High Needs Block.
Critical evaluation of school cuts
The School Cuts Union holds the opinion that an additional £1.5 billion is needed to meet the needs of special needs students fully.
In agreement with issues raised about the school funding, Geoff Barton, ASCL General Secretary, commented that the fund is substantial compared with the amount of damage done to schools and colleges.
The National Education Union general secretary critically assessed the provision promised to schools and colleges. In his words
Prime Minister Johnson has made lots of empty promises on school budget – but his numbers don’t add up. The latest funding announcement falls well short of settling the shortfall for every child. And crucially it fails to reverse the cuts schools have suffered since 2015.
£7.1 billion schools budget by 2022
The situation of schools was further described as struggling and at the breaking point by Paul Whiteman, the National Association of Head Teachers general secretary.
Meanwhile, the Department for Education is yet to react to the school funding of £7.1 billion by 2022. Further analysis from the Education Policy Institute showed that special needs students would not benefit from the additional money pledged to level up per-pupil funding for schools.
Moreover, teachers will also gain from the increased school funding as remuneration will increase to £30,000 by 2022.
The School Cuts Coalition comprises of the National Education Union (NEU), the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), Unison, Unite and the GMB.
Cryptocurrency funding
A few months ago, Curtin University in Western Australia announced a new program for higher education, focusing mainly on cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. To support the program financially, the university is accepts funding only in Bitcoin or Ethereum.
A representative of the university enthused that accepting funds in the form of cryptocurrency could popularize this payment method, and lead to its mass adoption. With the way that funds are being cut from the education budget, I couldn’t see why not?
