【Unlocking Word Meanings】
今日の単語・フレーズ
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. allocate [AL-uh-keyt] (v.) – to assign a certain amount for a specific purpose
Example: The government must allocate 40% of national budget to education.
2. subsidy [SUHB-si-dee] (n.) – money given by the government to support private organizations
Example: To keep tuition fees affordable, private schools are asking subsidy from the government.
3. complaint [kuhm-PLEYNT] (n.) – the act of expressing dissatisfaction
Example: Teachers filed complaints against the budget cut for education.
4. make ends meet [meyk ends meet] (v.) – to spend for basic expenses with very little money
Example: Some teachers stayed in low-paying jobs just to make ends meet.
5. stand for [stand fawr] (v. phrase) – to support or to be in favor of something
Example: The mother stood for her child’s right to study.
【Article】
ニュース記事
Read the text below.
Free nurseries in the UK are losing about £700 yearly due to insufficient subsidy from the local government.
The recent National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) report surveyed 196 nurseries in the UK, which say that local government funds are not enough 82% of the time. Liz Truss, Childcare Minister of the UK, said that the ministry has already received similar complaints from numerous nurseries.
Children aged three and four in the UK are entitled to free pre-school training for 15 hours in a week.
Truss explained that based on the NDNA report, it seems that funds for nurseries are not delivered properly. Providers of childcare and nursery education accuse the local government of keeping some of the funds allocated for childcare.
The Childcare Ministry is already investigating how the funds from the local government reach childcare providers and nurseries. The ministry assures that it will continue to advocate for transparency in the system.
Because of inadequate funds, nurseries are forced to ask parents to pay extra fees. Also, many owners of nurseries work full time without salaries to make ends meet, said NDNA CEO Purima Tanuku.
UK’s Department of Education, however, stood for the government, claiming that the government is actually providing enough funds for childcare. The government is also taking action to improve childcare such as cutting taxes and making it easier to set up nurseries in the country.
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【Viewpoint Discussion】
ディスカッションテーマ
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
· Is nursery education important? Why?
· Should the government allot enough budget for childcare? Why do you say so?
Discussion B
· Why do you think some people do not trust their own government?
· How can the government gain the trust of its people?