Just in: Scotland scraps fees for school instrument lessons
NewsScottish Government announcement:
Fees for children learning a musical instrument at school will be removed thanks to more than £7 million funding from the Scottish Government.
Councils will also receive £6 million to waive core curriculum charges which can be levied on families for things including materials for home economics or theatre trips associated with drama qualifications.
The agreement with COSLA covers the 2021-22 academic year and marks the delivery of two further commitments for the first 100 days of this Government.
Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said:
“My priority is to ensure the best possible outcomes for all of Scotland’s children and young people, whatever their background. All children should have the best start in life and the ability to take part in core elements of education should never be limited by a child’s ability to pay.
“Today’s announcement means families will not see bills for musical tuition or core curriculum activities in the new school year. I will continue to work with COSLA and local authorities to develop a sustainable and funded model for future years.”
Correction – the fees are not scrapped. The taxpayer picks up the tab. Let’s not fall for this nonsense.
Yay, Scotland! News like this is so wonderful to hear!
Sounds good. I hope it includes art supplies, outings to museums, etc.
Why do most parents prefer to pay for piano lessons, over viola lessons? It’s a LOT harder to lose a piano.
The bus companies’ lost property offices are full of pianos.
This is potentially very good news, but I wonder how much the instrumental teachers in that system get paid, and whether their working conditions are sufficiently flexible to accommodate other professional commitments (many of the best instrumental teachers are part-timers who combine teaching with professional performing work). If the working conditions within that system are inadequate to attract good teachers, informed parents/guardians who are serious about their children’s musical development may find themselves having to engage (and pay for) private teachers outside that system, whilst other parents/guardian may not realise that their children are doing badly due to mediocre teaching. Will Scotland ensure that the instrumental teaching on offer to schoolchildren through their state education system is not only free, but of good quality?
Do your homework before wasting time on writing speculative drivel.
A full time Music Instructor in Scotland earns between £28,809 and £38,292. All post holders have been interviewed and in some regions have to perform an audition piece as well.Instructors undergo training on in service days.Most instructors are keen to help their pupils to attain a high standard.
Being a very good player is not necessarily synonymous with being a fine teacher.