Essex education chiefs have attacked the Government over a funding crisis which could see at least 59 school jobs cut.

In a hard-hitting letter to Education Secretary Charles Clarke, Essex County Council leader Lord Hanningfield has laid the blame for cash shortages firmly at the Government's door-step.

He told Mr Clarke that the Government's decision to give Essex the lowest grant increase of any in the UK was the cause of the problem which could see hard fought for standards of achievement begin to drop.

Earlier this month, the Government pointed the finger at Essex County Council, saying that it was withholding £21.2 million that should be with schools - but Lord Hanningfield says that it is all accounted for, with much of it waiting for schools to fulfil Government criteria before it can be sent out.

"The main issue is a real shortage of money," he said. "This is a convenient diversion.

"Essex schools are suffering and many are having to make difficult decisions on expenditure on staffing and equipment."

A spokesman for Essex County Council said that there would be 59 redundancies in the county's schools this September.

This number is expected to rise, said the spokesman, but it is not certain what the final figure will be.

Half of the 59 redundancies would be teaching staff and the remainder teaching assistants and administration staff.

The redundancies involving teachers are expected to be voluntary.

Cllr Iris Pummell, the county council's cabinet member for education, said: "This is serious and very worrying. There is a desperate shortage of teachers in Essex schools and we cannot afford to lose these precious staff."

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has called for an emergency meeting on the issue in the next six weeks.

Published Thursday, May 29, 2003

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