Achi news desk-
Angry parents and teachers have opposed plans to cut 450 teaching jobs over the next three years, as well as remove MCR Pathways coordinators from secondary schools.
The huge cuts come as Glasgow City Council is required to make £108m of savings from public services.
The demonstration was held in Govan Cross to challenge Richard Bell who is the local councilor and treasurer of the local authority.
Activist Sean O’Neill said “he won’t lose his job” despite having his job under threat as one of 11 youth workers in workforce development.
They are facing unemployment due to the lack of approval for Scottish Government funding.
The 27-year-old young father works with vulnerable students by mentoring and preparing them for higher education and jobs.
Sean said: “I’m definitely not going to lose my job, that’s a fact, because this campaign is going to win.
“Our service is being cut. We need to stand up against this by sending a message to the Glasgow City Treasurer who is the councilor for this area.
“Ricky Bell should put rehab before money, and education before humiliation.
“These cuts are generational. It’s some of the worst cuts I’ve ever seen in my life.
“Losing 450 teachers in three years is unacceptable. This campaign has also shown how important MCR pathways are to our experienced youth in care for this city.
“I am proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with everyone who protects the services of the young.”
Susan Quinn, who has been a teacher for 35 years, said: “There are big cuts that are going to affect young people in Glasgow.
“Teacher morale is low, this planned budget cut has a terrible effect.”
A spokeswoman for the council said: “The treasurer, the Education and Early Years Town Council and the Workforce City Council have all met with the GCPG to discuss the education budget savings with a commitment to feedback information after each political oversight group meeting.
“Two representatives also sit on the education, early childhood and skills committee and can ask questions in this forum that includes the director general of education.
“Information about the savings in February’s £108m budget has been in the public domain since then and has been reported across a number of platforms and channels.
“Officers will continue to support our principals and their schools with the new staffing models that were rolled out before spring break.
“At every stage we will do everything we can to minimize any impact on schools, but in the current financial climate the council must look at every option.
“We know this will be a worrying time for everyone – for many years, education spending has been a priority, relative to other services, in the budget process.
“However, when the education budget currently amounts to more than half of the expenses of the services managed by the council, it is significantly challenging to protect education when significant savings are required.”
