Schools in Wales are grappling with severe budget cuts, leading to staff layoffs and teachers purchasing their own supplies for students amid financial strain.
Caerphilly: Schools are really feeling the pinch lately. Headteachers are cutting their budgets down to the bare minimum because of tight finances.
Teachers in Wales are even having to buy their own supplies for the kids. It’s a tough situation, and education union leaders are sounding the alarm.
Laura Doel, from the NAHT Cymru, shared that some schools are making heartbreaking choices to let staff go since there’s just no other way to save money.
She mentioned that staffing costs take up most of the budget, and many schools have already trimmed other expenses to keep teachers and support staff on board.
It’s gotten so bad that parent-teacher associations are fundraising for classroom needs, and teachers are buying pens and paper out of their own pockets.
“The only reason schools are making staff redundant is because there is nowhere else to cut,” Laura told the council members.
She warned that losing teaching assistants could be a real blow, and some schools are already struggling without them.
“It’s tough on the remaining staff who have to pick up the slack,” she added, emphasizing that educators are in it for the kids, not the paycheck.
Caerphilly Council invited the union to speak after a report highlighted the dire financial situation facing schools across Wales.
By the end of the financial year, schools in Caerphilly are expected to be millions of pounds worse off compared to last year.
Chris Parry, headteacher at Lewis School Pengam, said schools have been making tough budget choices for a while now, and they’ve really cut back.
These tough choices mean some schools can’t even offer vocational programs anymore.
Council leader Sean Morgan pointed out that the NAHT report talks about “reversing the tide” on school funding, and he’s hopeful everyone can work together on that.
But the council has its own budget issues, with a £45 million gap looming over the next two years. Cllr Morgan reminded everyone how crucial education is as they discuss budget plans for the new year.
“Children only get one chance,” he said, noting that while Estyn praised teaching in the area, the NAHT report shows that education in Wales is under serious financial stress.
Cllr Morgan also supported a suggestion to reach out to the Welsh Government about these school finance concerns.