The proposed budget cuts to the music service will total around £250k, including a reduction of instrumental music teachers employed within the service. Image credit: Shutterstock.
Stirling Council has become the latest local authority in Scotland to signal that their Instrumental Music Service is under threat from a significant proposed reduction of service.
The proposed budget cuts would drastically impact Stirling’s instrumental music service
The MU is gravely concerned regarding the proposed budget cuts from Stirling Council, which seek to make overall savings of £2.6m in addition to savings of over £8m which have already been identified in a bid to plug a hole of nearly £13m.
We understand that the proposed cuts to the music service will total around £250k and part of the proposals is reduction of 5 FTE (full-time equivalent) instrumental music teachers – although this is not specified in the papers or the consultation.
With only 12.5 FTE instrumental music teachers employed within the service, this will have a resounding impact both on jobs and on the children who benefit from the service.
We need urgent action to protect instrumental music provision across Scotland
"This is the latest in a long line of local authorities who have proposed to, or who are in the process of actively reducing instrumental music services" commented Caroline Sewell, MU Regional Organiser for Scotland and Northern Ireland.
"Despite positive developments around the removal of the ability for local authorises to charge parents at their discretion which created an inequitable postcode lottery, we are now seeing increasing demand for services which are often inadequately funded and without mechanisms to ensure the funding local authorities receive from the Scottish Government goes directly to funding music services.
"We need urgent action to protect instrumental music services across Scotland."
Take the survey to share your views
As part of the consultation surrounding these proposals, Stirling Council have released a survey where they are seeking views on the proposals.
The survey is open until Sunday 2 February. If you or anyone you know is likely to be affected by these cuts, we urge you to complete the survey and share your views.
Take the survey
Further actions
Sign the petition: Sign and circulate the national petition.
Contact us: If you are a teacher who is potentially affected by these proposals, or wish to contact us on any matter relatings to the cuts on instrumental music services, please email us at sni@themu.org.