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My colleague Laurie Bidwell and myself made a statement about the apparent re-announcement of the refurbishment of Harris Academy. We want this investment to take place, we want young people who attend Harris Academy to have the best education possible in the best facilities possible. Our comments are below:
Labour's Education Spokesperson in the City, Laurie Bidwell said:
"Today's news from the Scottish Government, is essentially a reannouncement of the SNP government's future school building programme from which they will part fund the refurbishment of Harris Academy in Dundee. I am concerned to see that my earlier predictions about the delay in making this programme a reality are unfortunately correct and a start on site is disappearing into the future. Unfortunately, it would appear that a pupil entering Harris Academy in S1 in August will probably need to wait until they are in S5 before they enjoy the new facilities promised. Right now MSP for Dundee West, Joe Fitzpatrick, must be feeling rather silly since last September he was insisting on Newsnight Scotland that a start on Harris Academy would be made before May 2011. With my colleagues in the Labour Group, I remain committed to trying to find a way of beginning the rebuilding of Harris Academy sooner rather than later. Later this month the Director of Education has committed to bring forward his delayed review of the school building programme in the city. Perhaps that will have more detail and some options for us to examine?"
West End Labour councillor, Richard McCready, said, 'I want to see real progress on the refurbishment of Harris Academy, I know that people in the West End and beyond want action rather than reannouncements. The Labour Group has made a clear offer to assist the Administration to deliver the refurbished Harris Academy but we have yet to have our offer taken up. I look forward to seeing real progress. We need to see detail and ensure that we work together to deliver the best school possible for young people and teachers in Dundee. The former Labour-led Administration in Dundee had a proud record of investment in education, this needs to be matched by the SNP.'
"Today's news from the Scottish Government, is essentially a reannouncement of the SNP government's future school building programme from which they will part fund the refurbishment of Harris Academy in Dundee. I am concerned to see that my earlier predictions about the delay in making this programme a reality are unfortunately correct and a start on site is disappearing into the future. Unfortunately, it would appear that a pupil entering Harris Academy in S1 in August will probably need to wait until they are in S5 before they enjoy the new facilities promised. Right now MSP for Dundee West, Joe Fitzpatrick, must be feeling rather silly since last September he was insisting on Newsnight Scotland that a start on Harris Academy would be made before May 2011. With my colleagues in the Labour Group, I remain committed to trying to find a way of beginning the rebuilding of Harris Academy sooner rather than later. Later this month the Director of Education has committed to bring forward his delayed review of the school building programme in the city. Perhaps that will have more detail and some options for us to examine?"
West End Labour councillor, Richard McCready, said, 'I want to see real progress on the refurbishment of Harris Academy, I know that people in the West End and beyond want action rather than reannouncements. The Labour Group has made a clear offer to assist the Administration to deliver the refurbished Harris Academy but we have yet to have our offer taken up. I look forward to seeing real progress. We need to see detail and ensure that we work together to deliver the best school possible for young people and teachers in Dundee. The former Labour-led Administration in Dundee had a proud record of investment in education, this needs to be matched by the SNP.'