Wasting funds for the future
Peter Hoskin 8:51am
I'm open to alternative suggestions from CoffeeHousers, but if I were to summarise this government in one word, that word would be “wasteful”. Today's Guardian, for instance, tracks yet another example of massive squander. Remember the Government's £35 billion 'Building Schools for the Future' scheme (BSF), which Brown says will result in UK schools being the "best equipped in the world for 21st-century learning"? Well, according to the Government's architecture watchdog, some eight-out-of-every-ten new school designs are “mediocre” or “not yet good enough”. Best in the world? Certainly doesn't sound like it.
But the greater waste may be that this money's being spent in the first place. BSF has always struck me as the most literal – and expensive – prioritising of structures over standards. As Fraser has pointed out before – most notably in this article – the successful, Swedish education model has seen schools established in little more than converted office buildings. It's their independence from state control which really matters, and which ensures a more-than-decent standard of education. Until Brown and Balls recognise that – or until they make way for Michael Gove – £billions will continue to be wasted routinely.
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Comments
oldtimer
July 21st, 2008 9:09amIn WW2 the cartoon character "Squanderbug" was created. Everyone was encouraged not to be a Squanderbug by avoiding waste and unnecessary spending.
It seems to me that we need the same mentality now - starting with HMG and all who work for and in it.
Tom Bates
July 21st, 2008 9:53amIncompetent. Utterly, utterly incompetent. Stupid. Spiteful. Institutionally corrupt.
Take your pick
Chris M
July 21st, 2008 10:05amI recall an account of the malaise in schools back in the 70s - now a golden age for education compared to today. Then as now, increased spending was seen as the solution. When this was put to a pupil, his response was:
'They could build it all out of marble Sir, but it'd still be a school.'
It's what happens in the buildings that matters. But of course, Broon and Co want to retain micromanagement of all aspects of that.
Education was this governments top priority. They should be lambasted at every turn that they have so signally FAILED.
Marcus Cotswell
July 21st, 2008 10:09amI'd go for 'arrogant' if I only had one word. It's the sense of entitlement they all seem to have, that somehow power belongs to them and their kind, and that the rules are for the little people and don't apply to them.
Kinda like the Tories in the 90s then.
David Boothroyd
July 21st, 2008 10:45amReading CABE's criticisms shows that they are not saying the money is wasted; as they are architectural advisers, their criticism is of the technical designs. For example they say the new school buildings are sometimes poorly sited because of "trying to build around old buildings instead of clearing the site". The reason why clearing the site is not an option is that the school has to keep going and there isn't time in school holidays to demolish and rebuild in time to reopen in the new school year.
TrevorH
July 21st, 2008 10:54amThe design of the buildings may be mediocre but that does not mean that they are unsuitable for teaching. I have to say that whenever I see the words 'architectural watchdog' I reach for my pistol.
Equally good teaching does not necessarily mean that we need to spend as much as £35 billion on schools.
So is this report indicative of 'waste' ? The governments schools programme might be worthy of debate (to what extent will it lead to better education?) but I am not sure this report as detailed is evidence of waste.
Tiberius
July 21st, 2008 11:38amJuvenile is my word for this lot.
Liz Brown
July 21st, 2008 11:50amWhat redress can be taken against these complete morons who splash our money around as if there were no tomorrow - political annihilation doesn't come close
Searcher
July 21st, 2008 12:08pmTalking about wasting funds, maybe the "Government's architecture watchdog" is a suitable case for treatment. This from their own website:
"CABE has a staff team of over 100 based at its central London headquarters, led by a senior management team and directed by 16 commissioners."
This is just one of dozens, perhaps hundreds, of quangoes whose value needs to be challenged. If government waste of taxpayers money is to be stopped, this is where to start
Hysteria
July 21st, 2008 2:25pmfrom LPUK - total spend on all QUANGOs is equal to income tax take......
Augustus
July 22nd, 2008 11:30amSome of the best prep school Latin and French was taught to us in outbuildings with a solid fuel stove for warmth in the early 1950s, which today would be considered third-world drab.
Above commenters are right. Improve UK primary school teaching standards, which are generally abysmal compared to the rest of western Europe. The buildings, and even the IT are secondary to that. Oh, and reduce class sizes if possible.