THE GOVERNMENT has come under attack after it was revealed that the Island will have 40 fewer teachers when the new school year starts in September.

The job losses - the vast majority voluntarily or from natural wastage - are because of a shortfall in school budgets.

MP Andrew Turner and the Island Council's shadow education spokesman, Councillor Andrew Mellor, have both accused the government of getting their figures wrong by underfunding education.

Cllr Mellor said the public would find it ironic that at a time when there were to be fewer Island teachers, the education facilities at Camp Hill jail were to be boosted with the provision of two new classrooms.

"The government needs to get back to basics. It should be giving children the very best education to stop them getting into trouble in the future," Cllr Mellor said. The simple fact is the government has not got its own sums right."

Mr Turner said: "The government has £1 billion in the Department of Education budget that was unspent which they could release to schools if they wanted to.

"The numbers identified so far - 40 teachers in 20 schools - represent just under five per cent of the 1,000 strong teacher workforce and is similar to the number of job losses in other mainland authorities, County Hall said yesterday.

Although the government gave a small amount of extra money, that was more than consumed by increases in teachers' pension costs and the rise in National Insurance contributions, leaving school budgets stretched.

About ten per cent of schools said falling roles had also played a part in the decision to cut teaching staff. Cuts have affected 12 primary schools and eight middle or high schools, with almost 30 jobs going in the latter sector.