Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 13 January 2021
13 Jan 2021 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Covid-19 Education Update
I thank the cabinet secretary for early sight of his statement. It is clear that teachers in difficult circumstances have worked hard over recent months in preparation for a sudden shift to remote learning and that they were ready with materials and programmes for their pupils to continue learning at home.
However, many will feel that they have been let down by the national platforms on which they thought they could rely—most notably through a widespread software failure. There have also been problems with the flagship e-Sgoil platform. One headteacher told me that pupils logging in did not get the licence that was advertised, that links have not worked and that, in any case, most subjects are still not covered.
The Scottish Qualifications Authority then lived down to expectations by publishing an assessment update on its update, promising another update to come. It is still looking for two to four assessments to be done, and is even suggesting that teachers might invigilate them remotely using—I presume—the information technology that was not working at that point.
Why did Education Scotland not fully stress test well in advance the IT that it was recommending for schools? Is the e-Sgoil offer fixed today? Will it be extended to all subjects? Is not it time to accept that trusting teacher assessments is the only viable alternative to exams, in the current circumstances? We need to give teachers, pupils and parents clarity now.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Christine Grahame)
SNP
The next item of business is a statement by John Swinney, who will provide a Covid-19 update on schools and remote learning arrangements. The cabinet secreta...
The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills (John Swinney)
SNP
Scottish education is today focused on ensuring that our children receive the high-quality learning to which they are entitled despite the current challengin...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Thank you. The cabinet secretary will now take questions on his statement. We must conclude around 12.30 for First Minister’s question time, so I ask members...
Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
I thank the cabinet secretary for advance sight of his statement. Conservative members, too, thank everyone in education who is delivering learning and chil...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
That was a lot of questions, cabinet secretary, but please be succinct in your response.
John Swinney
SNP
I do not accept that characterisation by Jamie Greene. He does a disservice to education professionals the length and breadth of the country who are, at this...
Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
I thank the cabinet secretary for early sight of his statement. It is clear that teachers in difficult circumstances have worked hard over recent months in p...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I remind members who are frowning that front-bench spokespeople have a given amount of time to ask their questions—so you can cheer up, Mr Coffey.
John Swinney
SNP
I welcome Iain Gray’s recognition of the good work that teachers have done. They have made a superb effort in order to be ready for the circumstances in whic...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I have 20 minutes, and 14 members want to ask questions. You do the arithmetic—it is important that you do so, given that the statement was on education. I ...
Clare Adamson (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP)
SNP
We know that many parents and carers are concerned for young people. Although schools are open for vulnerable children and the children of key workers, there...
John Swinney
SNP
It is important that schools make individual judgments about the needs of pupils who have additional support needs. For some of those young people it can be ...
Oliver Mundell (Dumfriesshire) (Con)
Con
Is it acceptable that some parents in my constituency are reporting that their children are being offered no live element of home learning? What is the cabin...
John Swinney
SNP
I set out in my statement that guidance has been issued by Education Scotland on the expectations on remote learning. That guidance was published on Friday a...
Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP)
SNP
Remote learning is key to ensuring that pupils continue their education. Can the Deputy First Minister confirm the minimum number of remote-learning hours th...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
That was three questions.
John Swinney
SNP
As I said in my answer to Mr Mundell, guidance has been published on the expectations on remote learning, which will be a mixture of direct live lessons and ...
Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab)
Lab
I will ask the cabinet secretary about the national qualifications group. The document on teacher assessment for national awards was published in October, an...
John Swinney
SNP
It is important to stress that the guidance will be published by the national qualifications group and not exclusively by the SQA. The SQA is working collabo...
Annabelle Ewing (Cowdenbeath) (SNP)
SNP
On the issue of key workers, I have been contacted by some parents in my constituency who are a bit confused about the position that is being adopted by Fife...
John Swinney
SNP
We have set out three categories of key workers. Category 1 includes, essentially, health and social care workers who are critically important to the Covid e...
Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
What discussions has the cabinet secretary or Education Scotland had with BBC Scotland and other television channels about additional support for pupils whos...
John Swinney
SNP
There has been good discussion between Education Scotland and BBC Scotland, and I spoke to the director of BBC Scotland about all of those issues last week. ...
Beatrice Wishart (Shetland Islands) (LD)
LD
Families’ lives and livelihoods revolve around their childcare arrangements. The Government cannot simply gamble on employers being understanding and flexibl...
John Swinney
SNP
We are in quite exceptional circumstances just now, and I am afraid that we have to ask employers to work with us in this respect. We have put into law a req...
Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP)
SNP
I am delighted to hear of the considerable efforts that are being made by my former colleagues in Education Scotland to support learning and teaching at this...
John Swinney
SNP
Education Scotland published that detail on Friday and, as I indicated in one of my earlier answers, directly communicated it to all members of the General T...
Ross Greer (West Scotland) (Green)
Green
Some special schools are operating as normal, having designated all pupils as vulnerable. The complex needs of their pupils might justify that decision, but ...
John Swinney
SNP
The point that Mr Greer makes about some staff—it will not be all—who attend to the personal care needs of young people in special schools raises significant...
Alison Harris (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
I appreciate that the cabinet secretary is making temporary financial support available to the providers of day care for children. He says that he is conside...