Parents kick back over 'school closures' plans

Concern over council's proposal for budget savings

- SHARON LIPTROTT

Opposition is being galvanised across the region over concerns that up to 36 rural primary schools could be closed or mothballed.

It is one of the potential changes listed as part of Dumfries and Galloway Council’s ongoing 2026/27 Budget Consultation.

However, “outraged” parents, educators, and rural communities are kicking back.

With claims that the council would be “sacrificing children’s futures to balance the book’, ‘The Rural and Small Schools Parent Council Alliance - which leads the Wee Schools Matter campaign - are forging ahead with community mobilisation amid growing resistance.

And has confirmed that 17 Parent Councils across the region have now signed an open letter demanding “transparency and fairness” over the council's proposals.

Anda petition ~ https://www.change.org/p/wee-schools-still-matter-in-dumfries-: opposing the closure has more than 1,330 signatures collected so far with fears the proposals would cause “irreversible damage to rural education”.

It calls for a withdraw all closure and mothballing proposals and to commit to “a fair, inclusive review of the future of rural education".

The parent councils involved are: