Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 19 January 2022
19 Jan 2022 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Education and the 2022 Examination Diet
I am going to make some progress just now, thank you.
Recently, the education secretary announced that the Scottish Government had back-up contingencies in place to allow for exams to go ahead. However, it was later revealed that that was not the case and there were no plans in place to hold exams at alternative venues in the event of Covid restrictions, and that no money had been set aside for that. To go back to Ross Greer’s point, those are the issues that we are raising today. Any responsible Government would have started preparing for this year’s exams last year and would have secured alternative arrangements to ensure minimal disruption to school exams.
As we know, the SNP is often fond of comparing Scotland to the rest of the United Kingdom. The UK Government has already committed to this year’s examination process. That has provided pupils and teachers with the reassurance that is needed to allow pupils to be ready to sit their exams this year.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone)
NPA
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-02839, in the name of Meghan Gallacher, on education failures and guaranteeing the 2022 exam diet. I invi...
Meghan Gallacher (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
I welcome the opportunity to open today’s debate on education and to move the motion in my name. The Scottish National Party’s record on education has been ...
Ross Greer (West Scotland) (Green)
Green
I am seeking clarification on what exactly the Conservatives’ position on exams is. If public health officials were to approach us in March or April and say ...
Meghan Gallacher
Con
The Conservatives’ position is that the Scottish Government needs to take a clear stance on the examination diet. Other areas across the United Kingdom have ...
The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills (Shirley-Anne Somerville)
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Meghan Gallacher
Con
I am going to make some progress just now, thank you. Recently, the education secretary announced that the Scottish Government had back-up contingencies in ...
Shirley-Anne Somerville
SNP
Can the member clarify for the chamber whether the other countries in the UK have a contingency in case public health guidance suggests that exams cannot go ...
Meghan Gallacher
Con
I would like the cabinet secretary to define what a contingency is, because she has not been very clear on that up to this point. Perhaps the Scottish Gover...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
If you could conclude, please.
Meghan Gallacher
Con
It is clear that, despite the many warm words from the Government on education, education has never been its top priority. I move, That the Parliament regr...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I call Shirley-Anne Somerville to speak to and move amendment S6M-02839.1. 16:49
The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills (Shirley-Anne Somerville)
SNP
We are still living in a global pandemic, which continues to have a significant impact on education. For that reason, caution should remain and contingencies...
Stephen Kerr (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
Will the cabinet secretary give way?
Shirley-Anne Somerville
SNP
I want to make a little progress, after which I will be happy to take an intervention from Mr Kerr. The focus of the entire education system, including teac...
Meghan Gallacher
Con
The messaging from the Scottish Government about the contingencies that are in place has been confusing, and we have yet to have the detail. Is the cabinet s...
Shirley-Anne Somerville
SNP
I refer Meghan Gallacher to what the SQA said in August and described in more detail in September. It is working through what will happen to each individual ...
Stephen Kerr
Con
When will a decision be made about the implementation of those resources? We are getting managerial rhetoric from the cabinet secretary; what about the action?
Shirley-Anne Somerville
SNP
The action that the SQA is taking is the monitoring of the data. If the data determines that further issues need to be addressed by the national qualificatio...
Stephen Kerr
Con
On what date?
Shirley-Anne Somerville
SNP
There is daily correspondence and discussion about the data, and if the data signifies that we are required to move to scenario 2, the SQA board can take tha...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Please conclude, cabinet secretary.
Shirley-Anne Somerville
SNP
It is the height of irresponsibility and political posturing to do so. On that basis, we will continue to have contingencies in place to provide certainty fo...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Thank you, cabinet secretary.
Shirley-Anne Somerville
SNP
I move amendment S6M-02839.1, to leave out from “regrets” to end and insert: “commends the education workforce for its continued efforts to deliver high-qua...
Michael Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I am happy to lead this timely debate for Labour. These remain incredibly challenging times in our schools, and the disruption of the past few years is trul...
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD)
LD
We do not often get a chance to debate education in this chamber, despite it, apparently, being a top priority for the Government five years ago, so I will b...
Neil Gray (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP)
SNP
Will Willie Rennie give way?
Willie Rennie
LD
No—I am sorry; I do not have enough time. All those proposals are constructive and positive. However, the truth is that the SNP has been belligerent for yea...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Please conclude, Mr Rennie.
Willie Rennie
LD
—to manage rather than lead. No longer do we hear about education being the top priority of the First Minister. That should worry us all, including the educa...