Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 25 February 2015
25 Feb 2015 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
STEM Education in Scottish Schools
I welcome this Conservative debate on education.
I note that the Institute of Physics in Scotland has said that we should do more to encourage female science graduates, and I think that we are doing just that. Not only the Scottish Government but all of us in this Parliament, across the political parties, have done a lot to address gender and science, technology, engineering and mathematics participation.
However, it is not the be-all and end-all. I like the wording in the briefing from NUS Scotland, which states:
“STEM education is a crucial part of our education system in Scotland, however we must ensure that our focus in this area is not to the exclusion of other subject provision.”
Liz Smith talked about that, but I wanted to point it out and maybe to remind Murdo Fraser, who is sitting behind Liz Smith, that languages are important as well. The teaching of French in schools is important. We must ensure that we also promote that.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith)
Lab
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-12385, in the name of Liz Smith, on science, technology, engineering and mathematics education in Scottis...
Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
The Parliament has just debated energy policy, on which there were robust differences of opinion. However, there was agreement on all sides of the chamber ab...
The Minister for Learning, Science and Scotland’s Languages (Dr Alasdair Allan)
SNP
As Liz Smith knows, the debate in some ways follows a members’ business debate five weeks ago in which a not dissimilar motion that Iain Gray lodged was disc...
Liz Smith
Con
I absolutely agree with the minister, but does the fact that more pupils want to access STEM subjects—that trend is being manifested in higher and further ed...
Dr Allan
SNP
I am glad that the member acknowledges that there are links between teacher numbers and the experience of young people in learning. I certainly acknowledge t...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
You are in your final minute, minister.
Dr Allan
SNP
In that case, I will conclude by making it clear that we can agree to work together on many areas, and not least on an issue that is important to the Governm...
Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
The teaching of science is a subject that is close to my heart, but more important, it is central to the country’s economic future, as Liz Smith was right to...
Dr Allan
SNP
I am sure that the member appreciates the difficulty of comparing one exam system with another, given the changes that have been made at that level in educat...
Iain Gray
Lab
The figures that the minister quoted do not take account of the new curriculum moving through into higher and advanced higher levels. If we do not have enou...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
You have 30 seconds.
Iain Gray
Lab
The Royal Society of Chemistry is right to suggest access to a science teacher for every primary school. In my constituency, Dunbar primary school has its ow...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Draw to a close, please.
Iain Gray
Lab
There is little to oppose in the Government’s amendment but, in truth, it reeks of complacency and abjures any self-criticism or even self-examination. It ig...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
You must close.
Iain Gray
Lab
Science is always ill served by smug self-satisfaction, and we will pay a price for that in our future. I move amendment S4M-12385.1, to leave out from “whi...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Thank you. I am afraid that we are very tight for time. Speeches should be four minutes, but if members take less than that, I might be able to call everyone...
Stewart Maxwell (West Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I am very well aware of the concerns that are raised in Liz Smith’s motion. The Education and Culture Committee has taken evidence on the matter. On the back...
Liz Smith
Con
Does the member acknowledge that there are different trends in the STEM subjects in teacher numbers compared with some of the other secondary subjects? That ...
Stewart Maxwell
SNP
I will try to come on to teacher numbers in a moment, if the member will excuse me. One of the recommendations in the final report from the commission for d...
Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (Lab)
Lab
Unlike my three Labour colleagues in front of me, each of whom is a distinguished scientist or engineer, I gave up science at 15 and have spent the past 50 y...
Christian Allard (North East Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome this Conservative debate on education. I note that the Institute of Physics in Scotland has said that we should do more to encourage female scien...
Liz Smith
Con
I entirely agree with the member: of course STEM cannot be taught to the exclusion of other subjects. However, among the main drivers are the needs of the ec...
Christian Allard
SNP
Indeed—the needs of the economy. Tonight, in Edinburgh, the French ambassador to the UK will be meeting a lot of French companies that operate in Scotland. I...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Will you come to a close, please?
Christian Allard
SNP
We are investing a lot, and in the north-east of Scotland the Scottish Government is moving forward. Local authorities are also playing their part, and we as...
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD)
LD
I, too, welcome this debate. As Stewart Maxwell rightly pointed out, the issue has occupied the time of the Education and Culture Committee recently, and I a...
George Adam (Paisley) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome the fact that we all recognise the importance of science education and how it can equip our young people with knowledge and skills to contribute to...
Liam McArthur
LD
Will the member give way on that point?
George Adam
SNP
Unfortunately I do not have much time. I would love to, but I cannot at this stage. In giving evidence, Stuart Farmer of the learned societies group said: ...