Moray MP Douglas Ross has slammed “appalling” cuts from the SNP-Government which he says are “firmly to blame” for half of the area’s schools being in a poor or bad condition.
Analysis of the School Estates Statistics published earlier this year shows that out of the 44 primary schools in Moray, 21 are in a poor condition and a further one has been rated as being in a bad condition.
The statistics also confirm that out of the eight secondary schools in Douglas’ constituency, four are in poor condition and one is in a bad condition.
Douglas says that the findings will “deeply alarm” parents, pupils and teachers who were already “very aware” of many of Moray’s schools not being fit for purpose.
The Moray MP – alongside UK General Election candidate and council leader Kathleen Robertson – recently welcomed funding for a replacement Forres Academy.
However, the duo also warned that calls for a new Buckie High cannot be ignored by the SNP-Green government.
In light of half of Moray’s primary and secondary schools being in a poor condition, Douglas says ministers must urgently “stump up” the funding required to ensure pupils are being taught in buildings that fit for purpose.
He says that the findings are another “black mark” against the SNP who have “wrecked” Scotland’s once world-leading education system.
Moray MP Douglas Ross said: “All of our pupils in Moray should be learning in a high-quality environment.
“Sadly, that is not the case due to appalling cuts over the years from the SNP-Green government imposed on Moray Council. Those cuts are firmly to blame for half of both Moray’s Primary and Secondary schools being in a poor or bad condition.
“While recent funding for a replacement Forres Academy was welcome, we need to see the SNP-Green government show much more ambition.
“There are clearly widespread problems across Moray and the local authority simply do not have the budget to bring these school buildings up to their required condition on their own.
“SNP-Green ministers need to stump up the cash and start proving that education really is their number one priority, as they insist it is.
“Right now the state of the school estate in Moray is another black mark against the SNP who have wrecked Scotland’s once world-leading education system.”