Munira Wilson
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for EducationFixing the challenges of the education system needs to start at the top and reach right through to the most disadvantaged if we want education to generate returns for decades to come.
Education is the best investment that we can make into our children’s potential and our country’s future. Giving every child the support they need at school so that they leave with the skills, confidence, and resilience to be happy and successful in whatever they choose to do next is a goal to which we should all aspire.
But despite this and for too long, education has not been a priority. And it is easy to see why.
When Gillian Keegan was made Secretary of State in October 2023, she became the fifth Secretary of State in four months. The sector has lacked leadership for far too long and because of this, education has simply fallen off the Government’s, the media’s, and the public’s agenda. This has serious ramifications.
Investment in Education
The most important factor is funding. Spending on human capital will generate returns for decades to come. That is recognised when ministers request funding for new infrastructure like new roads or railways. The anticipated long-term benefits in terms of job creation and economic growth are weighed against the cost. But when a school needs to be rebuilt, the Treasury sees no long-term economic benefits. The scales hang heavily down on the cost side, with children and young people seen as a financial burden.
RAAC
There is no better example than the current RAAC crisis. Over 100 RAAC schools have recently been added to the Government’s Rebuilding Schools Programme, bringing the total to over 500 schools. At the current rate of rebuilding, it will take 250 years to build that many schools. Even with the Government’s best-case scenario of 50 new schools a year, many thousands of pupils will finish education before work on their new school has even begun.
The problem of RAAC became apparent in 2018, but since then, the Government has failed to tackle the issue. Instead, investment in school buildings fell dramatically and the results are clear for all to see; children learning in crumbling schools that are not fit for purpose.
Tutoring
Another important investment we must make is in tutoring. Innovations like the Liberal Democrat Pupil Premium saw the gap between the attainment of rich and poor children shrink, but it is widening once again and is now higher than at any point in the last decade.
We must tackle this inequality and give these children a much-needed boost. Liberal Democrats would do this through a “Tutoring Guarantee” for every disadvantaged pupil who needs extra support. Tutoring is a high-impact, cost-effective intervention delivering an average impact of four months’ additional progress over the course of a year. It is an investment with excellent long-term returns.
On the Ground
Seeing schools in action is one of the favourite parts of my job. But when I speak with headteachers at the moment, they tell me that some of the most pressing challenges facing our education system come from outside the classroom. Teachers are experts in teaching and learning but at times, they feel like they are the fourth emergency service; filling the gap left by under-resourced services across the country.
Children’s Mental Health
Mental health is one of those major issues. Services for young people before the pandemic were inadequate. Since, despite the best efforts of everyone working in this area, the service is on its knees. Stories reach every MP in parliament; they are often shocking and almost always heartbreakingly sad – children whose lives have been turned upside down by probable mental health conditions and who cannot find the support they so desperately need and deserve.
For many, the wait for help exacerbates their problems, leading to them disengaging from friends, family, and school. A dedicated, qualified mental health professional in every school, both primary and secondary, would make sure that all children and parents have someone they can turn to for help. Fifty per cent of mental health conditions manifest themselves before the age of 14, which makes early intervention and assistance in primary years absolutely key.
Final Thought
Liberal Democrats see education as an investment, valuing our teachers and recognising the importance of all stages of education, from early years through to higher education and lifelong learning.
The challenge for us as politicians, policymakers, and educationalists is, when so many proposals are competing for public money, to make the case that education is always worth investing in.
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