Chamber
Plenary, 27 Jun 2001
27 Jun 2001 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
National Qualifications<br />(2001 Exam Diet)
The review that I referred to has been under way for some months. It is not a new review; it was referred to by the Minister for Finance and Local Government in his statement last Thursday. I hope that no one has any preconceived ideas about what its outcome might be. We need to choose the best structure and organisation for delivering Scotland's examination system. We will continue to work towards that. The Parliament will have a chance to debate the matter in due course.
On the legality of the current board, the advice that I have is that the legal position allows for vacancies on the board; any vacancies do not nullify the decisions of the board. It is important that we take action to fill those vacancies. Clearly, it would have been inappropriate to do that while the Executive was reviewing non-departmental public bodies. It is inappropriate to do it in July, but we will certainly do it in August. My understanding is that all the decisions of the SQA in the first half of 2001 will stand any legal test that anybody wishes to throw at them, although I hope that that will not be necessary or desirable.
I echo the comments that Mr Monteith made about the way in which everyone has worked together. It is important for the confidence of young people that we do not get into scoring political points on the issue of the examination diet. I am grateful to the Opposition parties for the way in which they have handled the matter in recent months. My experience of school visits in the past two months is that young people have seriously appreciated the way that the Parliament has acted.
On the legality of the current board, the advice that I have is that the legal position allows for vacancies on the board; any vacancies do not nullify the decisions of the board. It is important that we take action to fill those vacancies. Clearly, it would have been inappropriate to do that while the Executive was reviewing non-departmental public bodies. It is inappropriate to do it in July, but we will certainly do it in August. My understanding is that all the decisions of the SQA in the first half of 2001 will stand any legal test that anybody wishes to throw at them, although I hope that that will not be necessary or desirable.
I echo the comments that Mr Monteith made about the way in which everyone has worked together. It is important for the confidence of young people that we do not get into scoring political points on the issue of the examination diet. I am grateful to the Opposition parties for the way in which they have handled the matter in recent months. My experience of school visits in the past two months is that young people have seriously appreciated the way that the Parliament has acted.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Sir David Steel):
NPA
Our next item of business is a statement by Mr Jack McConnell, on national qualifications and the 2001 exam diet. As usual, there will be questions at the en...
The Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs (Mr Jack McConnell):
Lab
Like everyone, I was saddened to read this morning of yet another tragic suicide of a young person in Scotland, which should be a source of great concern to ...
Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I give a broad welcome to the largely positive developments and progress that have taken place since Easter. I add also the Scottish National Party's appreci...
Mr McConnell:
Lab
It is appropriate for any long-term review to include on-going monitoring of the implementation of the new qualifications and the role of the Scottish Qualif...
Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con):
Con
In trying to calm our nerves, the minister has clearly taken today's prayer to heart. Thankfully, there will be no deep intakes of breath following the minis...
Mr McConnell:
Lab
The review that I referred to has been under way for some months. It is not a new review; it was referred to by the Minister for Finance and Local Government...
Ian Jenkins (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD):
LD
I welcome the minister's statement, which seems practical and contains lots of positive news. I thank everyone involved in the work that has gone into prepar...
Mr McConnell:
Lab
I understand that next year's examination diet timetable allows three weeks for marking—longer than was available this year or last year. That is certainly a...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
Seven members would like to be called and we have just under seven minutes, so exchanges should be short.
Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab):
Lab
I thank the minister for his statement.On the appeals process for this year and next year, the minister will agree that it is unacceptable that some students...
Mr McConnell:
Lab
The arrangements that I outlined are for both types of centre—further education colleges and schools. There will be special helplines for both and there will...
Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I, too, welcome the minister's statement. I have three short, sharp questions.First, I heard what the minister said about appeals, but there was a little hin...
Mr McConnell:
Lab
Mr Neil will not be surprised to learn that they are easy questions for which there are probably not exact answers. I do not have a figure for the exact spen...
Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab):
Lab
I welcome the minister's statement, especially his commitment to consult the Education, Culture and Sport Committee.Does the minister agree that teachers and...
Mr McConnell:
Lab
On the involvement of young people, I pay tribute to Jennifer Bryce, from Cumnock Academy, and Victoria MacDuff, from St Modan's High School in Stirling, who...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
We have run out of time, but I will take the four remaining members if they ask one question each. The minister will give an omnibus reply.
Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP):
SNP
If the minister were wearing a halo today, it would be a 1,000-watt halo. Well done.I will focus on the data that have come into the SQA system from the Scot...
Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD):
LD
Can the minister assure us that his package of measures will greatly reduce the flood of paperwork that engulfs schools and colleges?
Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab):
Lab
Will the minister give a commitment to continue initiatives such as meeting head teachers and teachers at the secondary schools that serve my constituency of...
Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
Following on from Hugh Henry's question, I return to the theme of acquiring direct feedback from Scotland's teachers. They can write to the letters pages of ...
Mr McConnell:
Lab
On the first question, we are endeavouring to do just what Mr Stevenson has asked and ensure that all data are appropriate and accurate. On Mr Gorrie's quest...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
I thank members for their co-operation.