22/8/07

Chairman of Education and Children’s Services, Morag Munro, commented:

“There was a comprehensive Seminar held on 15th August where Members discussed the issues and challenges facing Education in the Western Isles in the near future.

This included information on the new 3-18 Curriculum For Excellence which is to be implemented from August 2009 and the impact that will have on education in the Islands. The emphasis changes from 5-14 to 3-18 and from S1/S2 to S1/S3.

We also discussed falling rolls and the deteriorating conditions of many of our school buildings.

The new School Project (PPP) was discussed along with the revenue requirement that entails.

There is to be an additional meeting of the Education and Children’s Services on Monday 27th August to consider these issues and to try to map out the strategy for the delivery of education for pupils in the Western Isles geared to the needs of our children in the 21st Century. How that will be achieved is a matter for Members still to decide.”

-----------------------------------------------------------------

23/8/07

There are four distinct factors leading Comhairle nan Eilean Siar to consider the future of educational provision in the Western Isles, the Chair of Education, Mrs Morag Munro, has stated.

Speaking today, Mrs Munro said:

“The Comhairle is meeting next week to discuss the future of education and how we can provide the best education possible for pupils in the Western Isles. There is to be an additional meeting of the Education and Children’s Services on Monday 27th August to consider these issues and to try to map out the strategy for the delivery of education for pupils in the Western Isles geared to the needs of our children in the 21st Century. How that will be achieved is a matter for Members still to decide but it is clear that these decisions have to be set in the context of four distinct issues: The proposed new 3-18 curriculum and its implications, The need to release and redirect financial resources for the Western Isles Schools Project (PPP), The continuing decline in the school rolls and generally tightening financial settlements.”