Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 26 February 2014
26 Feb 2014 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Scotland’s Children
It is vital that lessons are learned, so that we can prevent such a situation from happening again.
The situation is unacceptable and the Government has been complacent. We have heard serious concerns from the front line and teachers on the ground. The Government has failed to listen; it needs to listen fully and act on what has been said. Curriculum for excellence represents a great opportunity for our young people and we want it to succeed.
I move,
That the Parliament reaffirms its support for the curriculum for excellence, which it believes can make a significant contribution to Scottish education; however notes the serious and continuing concerns expressed by teachers and the worries of parents across Scotland about the readiness of preparation for the new National 4 and 5 examinations and the introduction of new highers, including over 30 complaints by the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association and also the EIS, which has “not encountered as widespread anger and disappointment and frustration with the exams authority as we are currently witnessing”; welcomes the somewhat belated announcement of extra resources and materials by the Scottish Government, which hopefully will allay many of these concerns, and now calls on the Scottish Government to publish a full action plan; agrees with the EIS that “lessons must be learned”, and further believes that an independent review should be carried out in summer 2014 on the actions taken by the SQA, Education Scotland and the Scottish Government when implementing the current phase of the curriculum for excellence.
16:00
The situation is unacceptable and the Government has been complacent. We have heard serious concerns from the front line and teachers on the ground. The Government has failed to listen; it needs to listen fully and act on what has been said. Curriculum for excellence represents a great opportunity for our young people and we want it to succeed.
I move,
That the Parliament reaffirms its support for the curriculum for excellence, which it believes can make a significant contribution to Scottish education; however notes the serious and continuing concerns expressed by teachers and the worries of parents across Scotland about the readiness of preparation for the new National 4 and 5 examinations and the introduction of new highers, including over 30 complaints by the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association and also the EIS, which has “not encountered as widespread anger and disappointment and frustration with the exams authority as we are currently witnessing”; welcomes the somewhat belated announcement of extra resources and materials by the Scottish Government, which hopefully will allay many of these concerns, and now calls on the Scottish Government to publish a full action plan; agrees with the EIS that “lessons must be learned”, and further believes that an independent review should be carried out in summer 2014 on the actions taken by the SQA, Education Scotland and the Scottish Government when implementing the current phase of the curriculum for excellence.
16:00
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott)
Con
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-09140, in the name of Neil Bibby, on Scotland’s children. I invite members who wish to speak in the debat...
Neil Bibby (West Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Like all parties in the chamber, the Scottish Labour Party continues to support curriculum for excellence. We want it to work, and that is why Scottish Labou...
The Minister for Learning, Science and Scotland’s Languages (Dr Alasdair Allan)
SNP
Will the member give way?
Neil Bibby
Lab
I am happy to give way to the minister, who I hope will respond to the concerns of those teachers.
Dr Allan
SNP
I am grateful to the member for raising these issues. As I have indicated throughout the process, the Government is keen to hear from teachers. It is importa...
Neil Bibby
Lab
Teachers can complain about the situation because it is completely unacceptable. We need a review for the very reasons that the minister has just outlined. I...
The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning (Michael Russell)
SNP
The member has just asserted that“so many pupils will not be studying the new highers next year”.Can he benefit the chamber by telling me how many? What prec...
Neil Bibby
Lab
Forgive me, Presiding Officer, but I did not know that I had assumed the position of Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning. If I was the cabi...
Michael Russell
SNP
He does not know.
Neil Bibby
Lab
Mr Russell does not know, and that is concerning. Instead of leadership, we have seen complete complacency—Interruption.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
Can we have a bit of order, please? Interruption. Order!
Neil Bibby
Lab
It has fallen to local authorities such as Fife Council to give the leadership that has been lacking from the cabinet secretary’s actions. Such is its commit...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
I ask the member to move his motion as he draws to a close.
Neil Bibby
Lab
It is vital that lessons are learned, so that we can prevent such a situation from happening again.The situation is unacceptable and the Government has been ...
The Minister for Learning, Science and Scotland’s Languages (Dr Alasdair Allan)
SNP
I am grateful for the opportunity to pause to remember why we are doing what we are doing in CFE and to reflect on the positive progress that has been made f...
Neil Bibby
Lab
Pupils, parents and teachers all need to feel confident before exams take place. Will the minister help to alleviate concerns by ensuring as a matter of urge...
Dr Allan
SNP
I am glad that Neil Bibby has asked that, because it was one of the interesting issues that was raised at yesterday’s meeting of the Education and Culture Co...
Neil Bibby
Lab
Will the minister clarify how many specimen higher papers will be published? He will be aware that concerns have been raised about the lack of resources for ...
Dr Allan
SNP
On the last question, the Government recently made an extra £1 million available to assist local authorities with textbooks, and we remain open to schools’ a...
Neil Bibby
Lab
It was about the number of specimen papers that will be published.
Dr Allan
SNP
In the next few days, a specimen paper will be made available for all the new higher courses.On the subject of highers, it is also worth saying—
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
You should draw to a close.
Dr Allan
SNP
The Government is listening—not only to parents and schools, but to teachers. We want to do what we can to ensure that confidence is not undermined at this c...
Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
I thank the Labour Party for selecting the topic for debate at what is clearly an extremely important time for the curriculum for excellence and the new qual...
Michael Russell
SNP
Will Liz Smith give way?
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith)
Lab
The member is concluding, cabinet secretary. You must be very brief.
Michael Russell
SNP
The SQA has made it clear that local authorities take the ultimate responsibility, but I thank Liz Smith for raising the issue in the way that she has raised...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
You must conclude now, Ms Smith.
Liz Smith
Con
I very much appreciate the cabinet secretary’s comments because the issue is certainly worrying parents.I agree with Labour that, whether we are talking abou...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I am afraid that you really must finish, Ms Smith.