"Nothing is more important than Education" says Eltham Lib Dem candidate Ian Gerrard (Greenwich Borough Liberal Democrats)

Greenwich Borough Liberal Democrats <mail@greenwich-libdems.org.uk>

"Nothing is more important than Education" says Eltham Lib Dem candidate Ian Gerrard

April 29, 2005 11:59 PM

Ian Gerrard outside Middle Park School in Eltham

Ian Gerrard, Parliamentary candidate for the Liberal Democrats in Eltham, has outlined the party's plans to reform and improve education for all our children and young people.

"Nothing is more important than education. The future of our whole nation depends on our young people getting the best possible start in life. From primary schools right through to Universities, we need to invest to ensure quality and opportunity for all."

Ian highlighted key Liberal Democrat proposals right across the age ranges:

21,000 more teachers to cut class sizes to an average of 20 in infant classes (from the current maximum of 30) and 25 in primary classes.
£230 million to train teachers in the core subjects to improve the quality of education our children receive in the basic life skills they need.
Let teachers teach and children learn by reducing the number of tests and freeing up time for skills in literacy and numeracy.
An end to tuition fees and top-up fees for our University students, just as we have delivered in Scotland.

"Our teachers in Eltham do a fantastic job in difficult circumstances. They deserve our support, with smaller class sizes and less time wasted on pointless paperwork and testing. Too many of our young people are being put off going to University for fear of leaving with debts of over £20,000. High quality education opens the door to better jobs and a better quality of life; this is the least that our children and students deserve"