Manifesto 2012 - Foreword

Supporting education in The Scottish local authority elections

Welcome to the EIS Manifesto for the Scottish local authority elections in May 2012.

The EIS has issued a Manifesto for all Scottish Parliament elections since 1999 and previously for Westminster elections. Now, for the first time, we are also publishing an education Manifesto for the Scottish local government elections.

Local councils have responsibility for running schools in their own local authority areas. While national education policy is decided at Scottish Parliamentary level, it is local authority education departments who have the responsibility for implementing that policy in schools across Scotland. This does help to foster local accountability, but can also lead to different approaches to key policies such as maintaining staffing levels, and improving access to pre-school education.

In this Manifesto, the EIS sets out the priorities for supporting a high-quality education system across Scotland. We ask all candidates of all political affiliations to consider seriously the EIS priorities for education in this election.

We urge all our members to pursue EIS priorities with council candidates and local political parties.

The EIS will express no view about which candidates or political parties you should support in this election.

However, we urge you, your family members, friends and colleagues to use your vote on May 3 and to vote for candidates who will support a high quality education system in your local area.

I commend this Manifesto to you.