A young Glasgow dad who has been told he is going to lose his job as a school support worker was among angry protesters challenging council plans for £27m in education cuts.
The city faces losing 450 teachers, 24 mentoring staff who work with children in care and 11 developing the young workforce employees.
Sean O’Neill is among the 11 who have already been told they won’t have employment come March 31 due to lack of confirmation of Scottish Government funding.
The 27-year-old who works as a developing the young workforce co-ordinator said: “Make savings somewhere else – don’t take it from young people.”
The Maryhill father-of-one added how he and 11 colleagues who help prepare secondary school pupils for employment were first in line for losing posts.
He said: “On the 31 of March I won’t have a job anymore. I don’t think that is right.”
It is understood a letter has not been sent to confirm funding from the Scottish Government yet.
The Developing the Young Workforce cuts are not part of other sweeping education cuts that were decided in a budget last month, described as “savage”.
Campaigners stood outside Glasgow City Council chambers on Thursday to make their voices heard.
Unison convenor for education Sylvia Haughney said 450 teacher jobs will be cut over three years as well as mentoring programme MCR Pathways staff who support 2,000 children.
Ms Haughney said the MCR Pathways service is for disadvantaged children and accused the council of lack of transparency when presenting education cuts in the budget paper last month.
She described how MCR Pathways staff were devastated and crying to hear about the cull of the service.
Ms Haughney said: “The first thing they said was: ‘what is going to happen to my kids?’”
She added: “The council need to do a u-turn and do it now.”
MSP Pam Duncan-Glancy added that cutting the staff will “deny future generations” opportunities.
But with £108m council savings to be made it is understood not cutting the education budget is considered impossible.
A council spokespersonsaid: “Officers are looking at several education service reform options as part of a budget that required almost £108m worth savings from council services over the next three years, not including social care.
“For many years education spending has been protected, relative to other services, in the budget process. However, with the education budget now amounting to more than half of service expenditure directed by the council, that is significantly more challenging when substantial savings are still required.
“Meetings have taken place with trade unions to discuss the challenges and make them aware of the savings needed and senior staff are also meeting with headteachers.
“At every stage, officers will do everything they can to minimise the impact but in the current financial climate the council has to look at every option.
“A cross party, political oversight group has been established and we will continue to engage with employees.”
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