South Wales Evening Post - 19 December 2008
Plans for the future of education in Swansea, and possible school closures, will be made public in the new year, councillors have been told.
The announcement follows a extraordinary general meeting of Swansea Council called by some councillors concerned they were being kept in the dark over the authority's plans for education.
The council faces a huge overhaul of education provision after being landed with a £150 million repair bill for its crumbling schools.
School closures and mergers are some of the options being considered.
Cwmbwrla councillor and AM Peter Black told the meeting: "I do not know where we are going to get the money from unless we get a contribution from the Assembly Government, or unless we are flexible in terms of private finance."
Plaid leader Darren Price said: "No-one disputes it is a problem and something has to be done, but I think it is the wrong way round — we are beginning by looking at the primary schools and not the broader picture."
Councillors were told no decisions have yet been made and that the old the next step would be to explore "innovative funding solutions" and funding bids to the Assembly.
Cabinet member for education Mike Day said: "This is not just about falling rolls or building conditions. It is also about ensuring we are continuing to improve attainment, not just for children in the system, but in the future. "
Councillors were also told there would be full consultation for pupils, parents, staff and governors.
They had also demanded to be told why no more than one head teacher and one chairman of governors had attended an earlier planning meeting. They were told it was because affected schools had not been yet been identified.
Council leader Chris Holley added: "There is a backlog of repairs across Wales. Without the Assembly deciding to make education a priority, we are going to have to wait.
"Unless there is huge investment for funding in education, we will be worse than many Third World countries in less than a decade."
