UK MPs announce cross-party inquiry into school funding

Europa/Reino Unido/ theguardian.com

Resumen: Los diputados están en peligro de comenzar una guerra territorial con el Departamento de Educación, luego de que el comité selecto de educación anunciara una amplia investigación sobre el financiamiento para escuelas y universidades en Inglaterra. Al anunciar la investigación, el presidente del comité, el parlamentario conservador Robert Halfon, dijo que quería que la investigación promoviera una ambiciosa «visión de 10 años para la inversión en educación» respaldada por el público. El anuncio sugiere que muchos diputados consideran que los fondos escolares son una gran preocupación entre los votantes, y no están contentos con la forma en que el tema se ha deslizado por la agenda de Downing Street a pesar de su importancia en los votos en las últimas elecciones. Lucy Powell, la diputada laborista de Manchester Central, dijo que la investigación sería un esfuerzo interpartidario destinado a ser una gran obra. «En las últimas elecciones, los fondos escolares generaron mucha preocupación», dijo. «Lo que queremos hacer es mirar más allá del corto plazo, y ver qué escuelas y universidades necesitan para mantener la educación en este país». Paul Whiteman, el secretario general de la Asociación Nacional de Maestros en Jefe , dijo: «Este es un paso importante del comité de selección de educación. La financiación de la escuela y la universidad es el problema que simplemente no desaparecerá. Hay demasiados padres, maestros, gobernadores y líderes escolares que presionan para obtener más dinero para sus hijos para que el gobierno ignore estas llamadas por más tiempo «. En una convocatoria de pruebas , el comité de educación dijo que su investigación «examinaría si se necesita un plan a más largo plazo para la inversión en educación y qué recursos se requieren para garantizar que las escuelas y universidades obtengan el apoyo que necesitan». Los diputados también analizarán la eficacia de las políticas gubernamentales, como la prima para los alumnos, que otorga a las escuelas fondos adicionales para alumnos de entornos desfavorecidos, y la implementación de la nueva y controvertida fórmula de financiación nacional para las escuelas.

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MPs are in danger of starting a turf war with the Department for Education, after the education select committee announced a wide-ranging inquiry into funding for schools and colleges in England.

Announcing the inquiry, the committee’s chair, the Conservative MP Robert Halfon, said he wanted the the inquiry to promote an ambitious “10-year vision for education investment” supported by the public.

The announcement suggests many MPs regard school funding as a major concern among voters, and are unhappy at the way the issue has slipped down Downing Street’s agenda despite its importance in swaying votes at the last election.

Lucy Powell, the Labour MP for Manchester Central, said the inquiry would be a cross-party effort intended to be a major piece of work. “At the last election school funding generated a lot of concern,” she said. “What we want to do is look beyond the short term, and see what schools and colleges need to sustain education in this country.”

Paul Whiteman, the general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: “This is an important move from the education select committee. School and college funding is the issue that just won’t go away. There are too many parents, teachers, governors and school leaders pushing for more money for their children for the government to ignore these calls any longer.”

In a call for evidence, the education committee said its inquiry would “examine whether a longer-term plan is needed for investment in education and what resources are required to ensure schools and colleges get the support they need”.

MPs will also look at the effectiveness of government policies such as the pupil premium, which gives schools additional funds for pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds, and the implementation of the controversial new national funding formula for schools.

“The prime minister recently signaled a new approach to funding the NHS. I hope the education committee can help to make the case for a similar plan for expenditure on our schools and colleges,” Halfon said.

“Young people are in compulsory education for around 13 years, yet government only plans investment in education every three or four years.

“We need to move to a situation where education funding is not driven primarily by Treasury processes but rather by a long-term strategic assessment of our national priorities for education and skills.”

Halfon’s remarks were described as “a breath of fresh air” by Geoff Barton, the head of the Association of School and College Leaders, which represents many secondary school heads.

“The funding crisis is putting hard-won education standards at risk and damaging social mobility. Our young people deserve better,” Barton said.

The committee is likely to further annoy the government next month, when it hears evidence from the former chancellor George Osborne on the educational divide affecting schools in the north of England.

Fuente: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2018/apr/19/cross-party-inquiry-school-funding