Video conferencing proposed as way to offset Highland Council cuts
GREATER use of technologies such as video conferencing could protect the range of subjects available to pupils in Highland secondary schools, according to the Scottish Greens.
The party’s education spokeswoman, Isla O’Reilly, said students were being denied the choice of subjects including sciences and languages because of local government budget cuts.
Ms O’Reilly, who is also a Green candidate for the Highlands and Islands at May’s Scottish parliamentary election, is calling on cash-strapped Highland Council to look urgently at e-learning as a possible solution.
A teaching union has said it is not against the idea in principle but queried whether the technical capacity would be available in schools.
Ms O’Reilly put forward the idea after MSPs last week passed the Scottish Government’s budget for the next year after a heated Holyrood debate. The measures included total revenue funding of £9.5 billion for local government which Cosla says amounts to a 3.5 per cent cut for the next year.
Highland councillors, meanwhile, agreed to slash £29 million from its budget.
"The Green MSPs have been fighting to stop the cuts by using the powers we already have to raise revenue," Ms O’Reilly said.
"Unfortunately, the Scottish Government has rejected the Green proposals so it falls to councils to manage the cuts as best they can.
"We’re getting reports from parents that secondary school pupils across the Highlands and Islands are losing out on access to subjects including sciences, languages and modern studies, due to staff cuts."
She said many pupils in the region already suffered restricted subject choices, especially in smaller and more remote schools.
"But the north has also seen the great success of the University of the Highlands and Islands which is at the forefront of using technology to provide high-quality teaching and learning remotely," she said.
"I’m calling on Highland Council to invest in video conferencing and other e-learning facilities that could stop the cuts from denying our schoolchildren the full choice of subjects."
Bob Colman, secretary of the Highland branch of teaching union, the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) said he was already aware that a number of subjects were already via open and distance learning online.
"In principle, it is a way forward," he said.
"But I think one of the major barriers to developing that particular strategy – which is certainly worthy of investigating – is the technical capacity in schools to deliver it. I think there would be logistical challenges to overcome."
Mr Colman was not aware of the existing pupil numbers involved in taking up online learning or the range of subjects.
The possibility of councillors making greater use of video conferencing to save money was raised last year. Although facilities are installed at council premises in Fort William, Dingwall, Wick, Golspie and Portree, it emerged limited use is made of them.
Many of the 80 councillors clock up a high mileage to attend meetings at various venues, including the authority’s headquarters in Glenurquhart Road, Inverness, for strategic committees and full council meetings.
Some make a trip of more than 200 miles with overnight stays to represent their constituents at such meetings.
