ELECTRICCHALK

Flickr image - jwolson

It’s the sound of axes being sharpened!

Merlin John flagged up this article from the Times. Richard Woods, the Times journalist is obvioulsy in a belligerent mood and is fingering BECTA as a good bit of the budget to cut to save a few bob in the aftermath of the current crisis.

It’s the first time I’ve come across this being discussed openly and, although it’s a bit depressing (BECTA provides us with our capital funding) I am surpised it’s not been talked about thus far.

I’ve never been convinced by people saying that the public sector is the employer of choice during an economic storm. Sooner or later, the government needs to pay for it’s rescue packages; massive tax rises are not a vote winner but being seen to come down hard on government “waste” is a much easier sell.

I completely agree that government waste is a big issue. Look at their record on IT procurement in the NHS! Or PFI (it’s delicious that PFI was invented so the private sector took on the risk of large infrastructure projects in exchange for more lucrative contracts. Now the risk is too high for the private sector to feel comfortable so the governmnet is taking on the risk and still paying the private sector inflated rates!)

But with all these things you have to make sure the baby doesn’t end up down the plug hole with the bath water. It’s pretty much accepted that innovative ICT has to be part of school life to give students the skills to use it in the modern world as well as engaging learners.

But I would say that since BECTA is effectively ensuring City Learning Centres’ survival!