Osborne announces plans to increase cadet units in state schools
The Chancellor of the Exchequer said the government would put the money towards expanding cadet units to 500 and would prioritise ‘less affluent areas’, in an attempt to tackle growing productivity problems.
According to the Ministry of Defence, as of April 2014 there were about 131,000 cadets. The majority of these are in the Combined Cadet Force (42,950), the scheme which is run through schools, with just over 41,000 in the Army Cadet Force. Around 275 schools have Combined Cadet Forces, of which about one-third are in state schools.
Alongside the pledge of cadet units, Osborne announced education plans to scrap student grants. Current university maintenance grants are to end from the 2016/2017 academic year and be replaced by loans, which graduated students will began to pay back once earning over £20,000. Additionally, Osborne revealed that tuition fees will rise in line with inflation.
Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Unit of Teachers, commented: “This Budget offers more of the same – the foundations of economic growth eroded instead of strengthened, and more bad news for teachers and parents.This Budget does not address the pressing issues in education funding.”
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