Meeting of the Parliament 30 September 2015
No. I have taken two interventions, and I need to make some progress.
I also agree with the Labour Party that education is vital if we are to see a growing economy benefit everyone. Our amendment makes reference to the Scottish Government’s failing record on education, in terms of
“a fall in literacy and numeracy”,
with Scotland slipping down the international league tables;
“a failure to close the gap in attainment between the most and least well-off school pupils”;
and, on top of all that,
“the cut to 140,000 further education college places.”
To have a truly successful economy, we need an education system that is fit for purpose. Too many of our children are being failed, and the Government appears to have no imagination when it comes to addressing that most serious of issues. Children from better-off families will always do well in school. They get the support that they need at home and their parents can always buy a better education by going for independent schools, by buying in extra hours of tuition or by buying a house in the catchment area of a better-performing school. Those options are not available to those from less well-off backgrounds. I firmly believe that the Scottish Government must level the playing field, not by pulling down those who are doing better but by giving a leg up to those who are falling behind. It is a sad indictment of the Government’s record that, far from improving under its watch, the situation is actually deteriorating.
Perhaps I can close by agreeing with the Labour Party—even the Jeremy Corbyn-led Labour Party—that the Scottish Government’s focus needs to be on improving educational standards. I have pleasure in moving the amendment in my name.
I move amendment S4M-14405.1, to leave out from first “believes” to end and insert:
“recognises the achievement of the UK Government in increasing employment by 175,000 in Scotland since the 2010 General Election; acknowledges that there has been considerable growth in full-time employment and number of hours worked; welcomes that wages continue to rise ahead of inflation and the positive impact on earnings that will be brought about by the national living wage premium announced in the Chancellor’s summer budget; considers that education is one of the most important drivers of economic prosperity, and expresses disappointment with the Scottish Government’s record on education, which has brought about a fall in literacy and numeracy, a failure to close the gap in attainment between the most and least well-off school pupils and the cut to 140,000 further education colleges places.”
Motions, questions or amendments mentioned by their reference code.
- S4M-14405.1 Employment Motion