A FIFE Labour MSP has voiced worries over education spending following the release of new statistics.
The figures indicate the Kingdom's spend per pupil is among the lowest in Scotland.
Claire Baker hit out at the SNP/Lib Dem administration in Fife in the wake of the 'shameful' results and asked for more money to be spent on schooling.
Accordin
g to figures released by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) for 2008/09, Fife spends the least out of all 32 local authorities in terms of spending per pupil in secondary education. It is also second bottom when it comes to spending per pupil in primary education.
The statistics show that Fife's spend per high school pupil stands at just £5115 - compared with a Scottish average of £6126, Glasgow at £7145 and Shetland Council which spends £11,566 per pupil.
Primary spending showed a slight improvement - as revealed in the figures - with only Angus Council's spending of £3808 per pupil worse than Fife's spend of £3990 per child. This is almost £450 less than the Scottish average of £4434.
But Ms Baker (right) criticised the statistics - even though Fife's spending on secondary education has gone up from the £5038 spent on each pupil back in 2007/08.
She said: "For Fife to be spending the least on secondary education and the second least on primary school education is a shocking indictment on the SNP and Lib Dem leaders of the Council.
"I know teachers are struggling through and doing an amazing job under the circumstances but this is simply not good enough. The Council is letting down pupils, parents and teachers across Fife."
She continued: "Education is crucial if we are to allow as many children as possible to reach their full potential.
"Fife's education system has always been a jewel in the crown, however the current Council are seriously threatening this legacy and risking the futures of countless children across Fife."
But chairman of the Council's education and children's services committee councillor Douglas Chapman disagreed with Ms Baker's comments.
He said: "The SNP/Lib Dem administration's budget for education was ten per cent higher than the previous Labour administration's budget. We have provided an extra £25m to spend on education this year targeted at new teachers, more funding for school transport and increased allocations to schools.
"In the last year we have reduced administration costs, employed 27 new teachers and increased the 'A' allocation to schools, for essential books and equipment, by three times the rate of inflation."
"Our attainment levels for five to 14 year olds are the highest they have ever been," Mr Chapman continued.
"We are investing £154m in an ambitious programme of school new build and refurbishment and her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education recently rated us as the most improved education authority in Scotland. These are all things we are very proud of."
He addedthe figure Ms Baker had used included the education service's share of costs for shared central services such as IT, telephony and law and administration.
