Support staff hit back at ‘brutal cuts’ proposed by Highland Council
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THREATENED education workers have broken their silence over proposed Highland Council cuts – accusing the local authority of keeping them in the dark.
It comes as around 50 people protesting against the cuts took their concerns about the changes directly to council headquarters in Inverness yesterday.
Parents have been left incensed by plans to cut back additional support needs (ASN) provision for pupils that need extra help after the idea was passed by the council in February’s annual budget.
And now around 65 (full-time equivalent) of about 240 ASN teaching positions are to be axed as schools prepare to break up for summer.
It comes after the council revealed last month that 63 (full-time equivalent) pupil support assistant (PSA) posts would go. Of these, almost 51 come from deleting vacant posts.
The council has more than 1100 PSAs and some claim the threat has lowered staff morale and caused anxiety.
Speaking out for the first time on condition of anonymity, PSAs said: “We feel a sense of uncertainty, we can’t relax because the more brutal cuts will definitely happen.
“There is a fear of speaking out which extends to the teachers as well. We can’t say what we feel because we fear that if we say something that will make us a target in the cuts.
“One of our biggest worries is what happens to the kids.”
The council has previously declared there will be minimal impact on PSA posts due to extensive work done to protect staff, it also said it had been working closely with staff, trade unions and others to see how best to meet the ASN allocation requirements.
Full story in today's Courier.
