A UNIQUE coalition of teachlag and stan unions, parcats and governors' organisations, ana campaigas and pressure groups will battle for the future of education in National Education Week (March 10-15).
The initiative, first proposed by the Fight Against Curs in Education (FACE) has achieved the seeminsiv improbable task of bringing together rival teaching unions (including NUT, NASUWT and the head teachers' NAHT) and a genuincly broad range of 114888 (including the Assiociation of County Councils) to ensure that the spotlight is turned nurseries and colleges in the run up to the clection.
The campaign is targeted at all Capital crime CAPITAL funding on schools has halved in real terms ver the last 20 years, plunging from £1.82 billion In 1974/5 to E964m. Britain spends only 5% of its education budget on capital projects, compared with an average of 9% in OECD countries.
The consequences are clear enough to see. A 1994/5 report from the Chief Inspector of Schools unor * 51% suffered crumbling three major parties in all constituencies: but it is clear that in demanding increased cash for schools C4008058HS8OBS aC challenging existing government DONICY challenge to Tony Blair's "New Labour". which has embraced Torv spending limits.
40.000 mosters and thousands of FACE information packs have been distribuica tarough over e mall ing lists across the country, in an effort to coordinate campaigning activities, with cach day in the Week highlighting a specific issue in education funding.
FACE is still compiling a national diary of planned events, stunts and photo-opportunities, but it is already clear that the Week will span the country.
Monday March 10 will focus on roofs or cellings • 47% had rotten or faulty windows * 88% sald local schools had overcrowded classrooms * 92% sald schools had temporary classrooms *36% still had outs ide tolIet* 72% were inadequately heated * 81% suffered from poer furniture and equipment. buildings and backlog mainteHance "£3.2 billion must be spent over the next five years just to keep existing buildings open.... over 600 pri. mary schools still have outside toilets.. well over 25,500 classes are being taught in temporary class rooms every day ... for 765,000 children school is a hut or a mobile classroom". (From Local Authori. ties Association Capital Expendizuze on Schools, April 1996)
Tuesday March 11 will target nursery education The Campaign Against Vouch: ers in Education (CAVB) have cal.
that COst administering vouchers for 650,000 4-year olds would pay for approximately 1,000 qualified classroom teachers.
Wednesday March 12, the topic is class size.
Denmark, Finland, France, gerGreece, Norway and Scot maximum permitted class size. Eneland and Wales have no maxi• mum class size.
Thursday March 13 spotlights special educational necds.
Chief schools inspector Chris Woodhead has stated that special needs coordinators are now only cffective in less than half of all schools. Most schools do not have chough moncy to implement the government's legislation on the provision for special educational needs.
Friday March 14 will look at funding in general.
The Association of County Councils estimate that they will need an extra £785 million if they are to implement the new legislation being imposed by the governthe cuts in funding they have suffered in the last few years.
Saturday March 15 will see a conference of school students dis2900г. "Education Beyond * For more detalls of National Education Week and the activities in your area, contact FACE on 01203 311013, or your local education campaign or teaching union.