Ed Balls secretary of state for children, schools and families has appointed four board members from Cable and Wireless, GlaxoSmithKline, Staufenberger, Smith & Butte and Chime Communications to OFSTED causing outrage amongst professionals and survivors of abuse.
Many oppose the new recruits branding it a flawed decision by Ed Balls who is recruiting those whose positions do not reflect the needs or the educational purpose of the child’s welfare or education.
When Ed Balls was appointed Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families on 28 June 2007 his principal focus was to ensure that every child gets the best possible start in life, they are safe and healthy, they secure the highest standards of achievements, that they enjoy their childhood and that they can make a positive contribution to society free from the effects of poverty.
Does this include Glaxo who by their own admission to drug trials on vulnerable children and publicly exposed for withholding important information on the side affects of Seroxat that have affected many children and teenagers reflect someone any parent wants in such a position in OFSTED? The answer is no and we the public have not been consulted nor has any professional who is better able to provide a valuable service to children in care or in education.
Phil Frampton a well known campaigner on children’s rights told no2abuse”It is a scandal of the highest degree when Glaxo Wellcome, a company that admits using vulnerable children in care and orphans, for its trials of often dangerous drugs (NY), has its representative co-opted on to the governments OFSTED watchdog for children in care and education. Many Glaxo tested children have suffered serious illness and some have died or are living with horrific consequences. Glaxo have even admitted to not having any evidence that they gained or even sort parental consent in many cases. How can a company that has operated in this manner for over 40 years be brought into the heart of the care system.
“This government is so busy cosying up to big business that its ethics have gone out of the window.”
“This government is supposed to be the ‘corporate parent’ of young people in care. Would you leave your children in the care of Glaxo for one week? I would be terrified.”
Liz Davies questions OFSTED’s new recruits and expressed concerns to no2abuse”
Wyeth pharmaceutical company was on the heading of the first flyers for the launch of Every Child Matters Green Paper in 2003. On the day, some of the organisers told me that the campaigns against baby milk were going to demonstrate and so Wyeth withdrew. I couldn’t believe that a global pharmaceutical company had any place at all in such a launch. It made me
realise that plans to centralise all children’s services through children’s centres and schools make an easy marketplace for the sale and promotion of many products relating to children such as vaccinations, drugs and computer products. What interest can these companies have in children other than to see them as potential consumers of their products?
Whatever happened to the welfare state?”
With much criticism of the new recruited four there is of little understanding on Ed Balls choice given the fact he has ignored many other possible candidates who would be better suited to such positions.
He needs to address his actions and listen to those who matter because it is those who’s valuable work in children’s services, campaigners and survivors of abuse that are in a much better position to contribute on a child’s welfare needs and the needs of vulnerable children. Drug companies, telecommunications and media marketing companies are the worst choice for such positions where a child should matter but clearly doesn’t with OFSTED. We need to question the reasons for such positions to be given to global companies with an interest that is questionable.
There are many failures in education, care system and many children’s services and this is the government and OFSTED’s answer to those problems by appointing yet more inexperienced people who will add to an already failing system thus put more children at risk than helping them.
Ed Balls should resign for failing children’s services
No2abuse is outraged at the newly appointed OFSTED four and calls for public to speak up and question his decisions
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