Fears have been raised that not every child in Dundee will benefit from a share of £100 million that will be given to Scottish education.
As revealed in the Tele, city schools will get a share of the pot — which will be sourced by local authorities raising council tax across the country.
Local schoolchildren will still benefit even if Dundee City Council decides against raising council tax.
But Councillor Laurie Bidwell, education spokesman in the council’s opposition Labour group, said he was concerned that the money wouldn’t be fairly distributed in Dundee.
He also said he was worried that the promised money was simply a sweetener against further cuts to council budgets.
He said: “I have real concerns that the council’s budget for 2017/18 will see money being diverted away from education.
“I hope this money isn’t a way of deflecting from that.
“If this money is truly coming to school pupils in Dundee, I would give it a cautious welcome but we need to ensure it is evenly and fairly distributed to where it is most needed.
“I’m not sure what the formula will be for that, or how the criteria will be decided.
“But we need to ensure it goes to where it is needed most.”
However, Stewart Hunter, who is convener of the city council’s children and family services committee, insists schoolchildren’s education will benefit from the extra cash.
He told the Tele: “We share the Scottish Government’s determination to improve attainment in our schools and ensure that all our young people have the opportunity to fulfil their potential.
“We welcome the extra money that will come to the city.
“I am aware the Scottish Government and Cosla are still discussing exactly how the money will be allocated. At the moment we don’t know how much each school would get.
“We’ll ensure this money will benefit the education of our young people.”
Council tax has been frozen across Scotland since 2007.
However, the Scottish Government is now allowing councils to increase it by as much as 3% in 2017/18 to help local authorities raise more funds.