Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Press Release
12th February 2009
Schools Decisions Extremely Disappointing
Responding to an announcement that the Scottish Government was not giving consent for Comhairle nan Eilean Siar to proceed with closing four S1 S2 secondary schools, Comhairle Leader Angus Campbell said:
“These are extremely disappointing decisions from the Scottish Government, particularly in light of the recent HMIe report which criticised the Comhairle’s delay in proceeding with schools rationalisation. That report also commended the decision by the Comhairle to, eventually, proceed with the rationalisation programme for S1 S2. We now have to read carefully the response from the Scottish Government and assess the implications. We need to consider particularly the implications for the Western Isles Schools Project and whether these decisions will delay the project to build five new schools in the islands, including the Nicolson Institute, which serves over 40% of the school population.
I intend to call an informal meeting of the Comhairle at an early stage to discuss this disappointing and damaging decision, not just to the schools project but also to our capital investment programme. At a time of extreme economic challenge that is particularly sad because the Islands need as much construction work as possible. In addition our children and their parents want and need the new schools that the Comhairle has committed to deliver”.
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Nigel Scott
Communications Officer
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Tel: 01851 822622 (Work)
Tel: 07884 236103 (Mobile)
email: nscott@cne-siar.gov.uk
Ruairidh Maciver
Communications Assistant
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Tel: 01851 822615 (Work)
Tel: 07881 774601 (Mobile)
email: ruairidh.maciver@cne-siar.gov.uk
