| Discord over fees for school music tuition
GROWING numbers of pupils studying music in Scotland's schools are increasingly being charged for instrument lessons by cash-strapped councils, new figures show. Scotland's largest teaching union, the Educational Institute of Scotland, said the charges were part of an "alarming trend" which was seeing pupils being penalised by councils trying to make savings. A spokesman for Renfrewshire Council, which has only recently introduced charges, said: "The charges relate to additional tuition, which is an optional extra for pupils learning an instrument. One instructor, who did not want to be named, said the legality of the charges was "highly dubious". This may not be the same as kids getting music lessons, it's councils taking it upon themselves to charge parents for their children to sit an exam. "However, it's a concern that we're starting to see one or two councils feeling obliged to make charges for SQA candidates. Mark Traynor, convener of the union's Instrumental Music Teachers' Network, said that with exemptions for the poorest students, it was those from middle-income homes which were likely to suffer. I'm concerned it will only have a detrimental effect as soon as you introduce charging. There are around 750 music instructors working alongside music teachers in Scotland's schools. He said: "What's happened recently is that there is increased pressure financially and that puts pressure on councils to make cuts, which has had a direct impact on instrumental music tuition. The union has made protecting free instrument tuition one of the key aims of its "manifesto" launched ahead of May's local council elections. Figures supplied by the EIS show that only eight – East Lothian, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Orkney, South Ayrshire, West Dunbartonshire, West Lothian and Western Isles – of Scotland's 32 local authorities currently provide free instrument tuition to pupils. A spokesman for Aberdeen City Council, which has several of the highest charges, said: "Music tuition charges were introduced in Aberdeen 15 years ago. For session 2011/12 the fees are £340 per year for individual lessons and £272 per year for group lessons. This fee also includes the loan of an instrument and attendance at all music centre activities. It is also worth pointing out that the additional tuition service remains heavily subsidised by the council. There is no standard way of charging for tuition, with councils across the country setting varying rates. "It's not clear if that's even legal. Liz Smith said: "I fully recognise that councils are under budgetary pressures and have to be careful that money is being spent with the right focus. While most others offer exemptions to pupils taking Standard Grade or Higher Music, details obtained by Tory education spokeswoman Liz Smith MSP, using Freedom of Information laws, show that a number are now charging those students as well. "There's a huge disparity across Scotland as a complete, which concerns us. Borders Council said it had exemptions in place for pupils receiving free school meals, school clothing and footwear grants. |
Monday, 9 April 2012
Discord over fees for school music tuition
