All posts tagged: afford

Schools can afford less than half of 2.8% rise

Schools can afford less than half of 2.8% rise

Published by skeptic

‘Headroom’ in next year’s budget only leaves enough for an increase of 1.3 per cent, official government analysis finds ‘Headroom’ in next year’s budget only leaves enough for an increase of 1.3 per cent, official government analysis finds Schools will be able to afford less than half of the 2.8 per cent pay rise proposed for next year, the Department for Education has admitted. In its annual school costs technical note, the Department said it expected school funding to rise by 4.3 per cent next year, while costs will rise by 3.6 per cent. But that headroom only leaves enough to pay for a 1.3 per cent pay rise, when government has recommended teacher pay rises by 2.8 per cent. Assuming school support staff pay rose by the same amount, it would leave schools having to fund the money for most of the rise from their own budgets. Schools were warned this would happen. In its evidence to the School Teachers’ Review Body, the DfE said “most schools will need to supplement the new funding …

Schools face more cuts to afford 2025 pay rises

Schools face more cuts to afford 2025 pay rises

Published by skeptic

More from this theme Recent articles Increases in school costs will outstrip the government’s recent funding boost, the Institute for Fiscal Studies has said, warning that leaders again face making more cuts to provision. The schools budget is due to rise by about £2.3 billion next year (2025-26), but about £1 billion of this is for high needs. That leaves a 2.8 per cent rise in per pupil funding for mainstream schools, IFS said, which is below the estimated 3.6 per cent rise in school costs. Most of the latter is driven by teacher pay rises, which were 5.5 per cent this year and 2.8 per cent for the next academic year. The report states that school budgets will feel “very tight” next year, adding some may “struggle to cover their costs without making savings”. Schools can only afford a 2 per cent pay rise next year, IFS said. Julie McCulloch, policy director at the Association of School and College Leaders, said schools face “another round of cutbacks”. “It will inevitably mean further reductions to …

Democracy under scrutiny as Nigerians struggle to afford the basics | Nigeria

Democracy under scrutiny as Nigerians struggle to afford the basics | Nigeria

Published by skeptic

For visitors to Lagos, the gentle plea begins with immigration officials at the airport and is echoed across the streets of Africa’s most populous city: “Show me love.” It is a familiar request for tips in a city of omnipresent hustle, but residents say the requests have intensified in the last year as people struggle under the crushing weight of Nigeria’s underperforming economy. Wednesday marked the completion of the first year in office of the president, Bola Tinubu, after the disputed election of February 2023. It was also the 25th anniversary of Nigeria’s return to democracy, a promising point in a region where six out of eight coup attempts since 2020 have been successful. Official ceremonies were restrained, and on the eve of the landmark date, the national mood in the capital, Abuja, was far from celebratory. Bola Tinubu after the disputed election of February 2023. Photograph: Olamikan Gbemiga/AP Overall economic progress since 1999 has been hard to measure due to the many periods of growth and decline, said Bongo Adi, a professor of economics …

The Guardian view on the climate emergency: we cannot afford to despair | Editorial

The Guardian view on the climate emergency: we cannot afford to despair | Editorial

Published by skeptic

First, the good news. We understand the problem: almost two-thirds of people worldwide believe the climate crisis is an emergency. We know what needs to be done, and should be confident that we will be able to achieve it, thanks to the rapid advance of renewable technologies. Collectively, we can also muster the money to do it. The scale and speed of global heating make it hard to hang on to these facts. But it is also why we must focus on them rather than throwing up our hands. New research by the Guardian has found that hundreds of the world’s top climate scientists believe global temperatures will rise by at least 2.5C above pre-industrial levels by the century’s end, far above the internationally agreed limit. Only 6% of those surveyed, all from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, thought that the 1.5C target could be met. We are already seeing soaring temperatures. The European Union’s climate monitoring service says that every month since last June has broken temperature records. And we are already living with – and dying from – …

Man confesses to killing hospitalized wife because he couldn’t afford to care for her, police say

Man confesses to killing hospitalized wife because he couldn’t afford to care for her, police say

Published by skeptic

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — A Kansas City-area man who is charged with killing his hospitalized wife told police he couldn’t take care of her or afford her medical bills, court records say. Ronnie Wiggs made his first appearance Monday on a second-degree murder charge and was referred to the public defender’s office. A hearing was set for Thursday to review his $250,000 bond. A phone message that was left with the public defender’s office wasn’t immediately returned. Centerpoint Medical Center in Independence, Mo.Google Maps His wife was getting a new port for her dialysis when staff at Centerpoint Medical Center in Independence called a “code blue” Friday because she was unresponsive. Staff managed to get her pulse back, but they determined she was brain dead and made preparations to harvest her organs, according to the probable cause statement. His wife died Saturday. After the attack, Wiggs left the hospital. But the statement said the woman’s son brought Wiggs back to see her and he confessed. Staff heard him say, “I did it, I killed her, I …

Some asthma inhalers emit greenhouse gases. But can patients afford to switch? : Shots

Some asthma inhalers emit greenhouse gases. But can patients afford to switch? : Shots

Published by skeptic

Miguel Divo shows his patient, Joel Rubinstein, a dry powder inhaler. It’s an alternative to some puff inhalers that emit potent greenhouse gases, but is equally effective for many patients with asthma. Jesse Costa/WBUR hide caption toggle caption Jesse Costa/WBUR Miguel Divo shows his patient, Joel Rubinstein, a dry powder inhaler. It’s an alternative to some puff inhalers that emit potent greenhouse gases, but is equally effective for many patients with asthma. Jesse Costa/WBUR During an asthma check-up at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Joel Rubinstein gets a surprising pitch — for the planet, as well as his health. His pulmonologist, Dr. Miguel Divo, explains that the familiar boot-shaped respiratory inhalers, which represent nearly 90% of the U.S. market for asthma medication, save lives but also contribute to climate change. Each puff from that type of inhaler releases a hydrofluorocarbon gas that is 1,430 to 3,000 times as powerful as the most commonly known greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide. “That absolutely never occurred to me,” says Rubinstein, a retired psychiatrist. “Especially, I mean, these are …

Eurovision winner Jamala says Ukraine ‘can’t afford’ to boycott contest

Eurovision winner Jamala says Ukraine ‘can’t afford’ to boycott contest

Published by Sam

Sign up to Roisin O’Connor’s free weekly newsletter Now Hear This for the inside track on all things music Get our Now Hear This email for free Former Eurovision winner Jamala has said Ukraine “cannot afford” to boycott the song contest because it needs to stay in the news. There have been calls to boycott the contest over Israel’s inclusion while its war in Gaza is still continuing. Jamala, 40, who is from Ukraine and won the contest in 2016 with her song 1944, said Ukrainian artists needed to be “loud and creative” to remind the world that the war in the country was still going on, especially as people were “getting tired” of it. “Some countries may refuse to participate but we don’t. Especially we cannot afford to give up such a contest in time of war,” she told the PA news agency. “There are many wars now in the world and, of course, it is not easy to constantly keep attention on yourself so that people do not get tired of our war.” …

Working Mom In Dual-Income Household Asks Other Parents How They Afford Family Vacations

Working Mom In Dual-Income Household Asks Other Parents How They Afford Family Vacations

Published by skeptic

In today’s economic climate, most people can barely afford to buy their children clothes, let alone take the entire family on vacation a few times a year.  One mom named Marty is genuinely curious about how other families can go on vacation without plunging themselves into debt, so she took to TikTok to get some answers.  The woman, who lives in a dual-income household, asked other families how they could afford to go on vacation without going into debt.  Marty, a mother of two and a dental hygienist, posted a TikTok video asking other parents how they can afford to take their families on multiple vacations a year.  In the text overlay, she wrote, “Like, do you not have student loans anymore? No childcare costs? No mortgage? No bills?”  Creativa Images / Shutterstock RELATED: Mom With Unemployed Husband Is ‘Drowning In Debt’ And Says She’s In Her ‘Mom Burnout Era’ “Is it family inheritance? Maybe it’s put on credit cards? I DON’T UNDERSTAND.”  People offered a variety of explanations for the woman, which shed some light …

BRIT School can’t afford to keep lights on for drummers

BRIT School can’t afford to keep lights on for drummers

Published by skeptic

‘Raising funds is what I do as a state head, which is unacceptable’ ‘Raising funds is what I do as a state head, which is unacceptable’ More from this theme Recent articles The prestigious performing arts BRIT School “can’t afford to keep the lights on” before school so pupils – who cannot afford drum kits – can practise, its headteacher has said. Adele The performing and creative arts school for 14- to 19-year-olds in Croydon, south London, boasts the likes of Adele, Amy Winehouse and Rizzle Kicks among its alumni. But, its principal Stuart Worden said he is not immune to “painful decisions” facing other heads because “there is no new money”. Despite recent funding increases from government, pay rises for teachers and support staff – as well as rising costs and pressure to pay for support services such as food banks, counsellors and mental health – are squeezing school budgets. The Institute for Fiscal Studies estimates school funding next year will still be four per cent below 2010 levels in real-terms, when school-specific costs …

Tell us: are you splurging on luxury goods you can ill afford? | Luxury goods sector

Tell us: are you splurging on luxury goods you can ill afford? | Luxury goods sector

Published by skeptic

We’re interested to hear about people’s spending habits in the area of upmarket or luxury goods, services and experiences, and whether they are generally happy with their spending on non-essentials. We’d like to know whether you have spent money on expensive non-essential items such as designer clothing, high end housewares, luxury holidays, expensive beauty or wellness treatments, or exclusive dining, for instance, in the past year, and if so, whether you have struggled to afford this. We’re also keen to hear whether your attitude towards spending on luxury goods or experiences may have changed in recent years, and which factors you believe may have contributed to this. Share your experience Tell about your spending habits regarding non-essential items and experiences, whether you live above your means in your view, and whether your attitude towards luxury goods and spending has changed in recent years. Your responses, which can be anonymous, are secure as the form is encrypted and only the Guardian has access to your contributions. We will only use the data you provide us for …