Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 01 February 2022
01 Feb 2022 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
National Qualifications 2022
I thank the cabinet secretary for advance sight of her statement.
Two weeks ago, the Scottish Conservatives called for the Government to commit to ensuring that the 2022 examination diet would go ahead in full. Despite warm words from the cabinet secretary today, we are no further forward. The plans are too little too late. The Scottish Government is setting out its contingencies without releasing the equality and children’s rights impact assessment so that the Parliament can fully scrutinise it.
Recent reports have outlined that 80 per cent of pupils—I emphasise that figure—still do not have a digital device despite the Scottish Government having outlined its online support plans. In addition, many people will feel that starting revision support in March is far too late, especially for pupils who are catching up on lost schooling.
The Scottish Government has had two years to get it right and we are heading for yet another disaster. Pupils and teachers deserve better than what has been offered today. Will the cabinet secretary release the impact assessment this afternoon and ask the SQA to start the revision support sooner? When will our young people finally receive their digital devices, or is that yet another broken promise from the Scottish National Party Government?
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The next item of business is a statement by Shirley-Anne Somerville on an update on the 2022 national qualifications. The cabinet secretary will take questio...
The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills (Shirley-Anne Somerville)
SNP
As I reaffirmed in Parliament on 19 January, it is our firm intention that exams will take place this year. I restated the significant modifications to cours...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
The cabinet secretary will now take questions on her statement. I intend to allow around 20 minutes for questions, after which we will need to move to the ne...
Meghan Gallacher (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
I thank the cabinet secretary for advance sight of her statement. Two weeks ago, the Scottish Conservatives called for the Government to commit to ensuring ...
Shirley-Anne Somerville
SNP
I feel that we are having a bit of a groundhog day, going around some of the discussions that we had the last time that we debated the matter. However, I wil...
Stephen Kerr (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
It is a misrepresentation.
Shirley-Anne Somerville
SNP
It is important because it testifies to where we are at. Kaukab Stewart asked: “The safety of our children is paramount—surely, Sharon Dowey agrees.” Sharo...
Stephen Kerr
Con
It is a misrepresentation. That is shameful.
Shirley-Anne Somerville
SNP
It is shameful.
Stephen Kerr
Con
Shameful!
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Mr Kerr, that is enough.
Shirley-Anne Somerville
SNP
It is our firm intention that the exams will go ahead. Just like every other member of the United Kingdom, we have a contingency if public health guidance do...
Michael Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Labour members send our best wishes to young people and staff who have been dealing with three years of unimaginable disruption. There is much to welcome i...
Shirley-Anne Somerville
SNP
Michael Marra raises a number of points, and I will try to get through them all. Last year, there was a right of direct and free appeal for learners. If it ...
Kaukab Stewart (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP)
SNP
It is understandable that students and staff might be anxious about exams and need assurances that the process will be fair and the results that are awarded ...
Shirley-Anne Somerville
SNP
Many other modifications, in terms of course work and revision support, will have been made before we get to the appeals part of the process. However, when i...
Pam Gosal (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
Given the possibility that a greater number of pupils than normal will be subject to the exceptional circumstances approach, will the cabinet secretary confi...
Shirley-Anne Somerville
SNP
As I set out in my statement, the exceptional circumstances service will be available to learners who have missed an exam, including due to Covid, and there ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
James Dornan joins us remotely.
James Dornan (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome the cabinet secretary’s statement, particularly the fact that the SQA will recognise the disruption that has been caused to learners in its approac...
Shirley-Anne Somerville
SNP
I confirm that award meetings will take place for each individual subject after the exam has been held, to ensure that the standard and level of demand of th...
Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
It is a shame that, five minutes before the cabinet secretary rose to her feet, her statement was being discussed on the internet, following an SQA press rel...
Shirley-Anne Somerville
SNP
As the member is aware, the SQA is independent from Government, and I am certainly not responsible for the timing of its press releases or when those are pub...
Emma Harper (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
The SQA has taken the decision to move to scenario 2, which is to provide support to learners to aid them with their preparation for exams, with full details...
Shirley-Anne Somerville
SNP
As I mentioned in my statement, the SQA has made significant modifications to courses and assessments to take account of disruption to learning. The revision...
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD)
LD
The education secretary has been slow-footed on moving to scenario 2, when it has been abundantly clear that that has been necessary for weeks as some pupils...
Shirley-Anne Somerville
SNP
The decision to move to scenario 2 was one for the SQA to make. The board met at the end of last week, and the decision has been announced this week through ...
Bob Doris (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP)
SNP
The Scottish Government has already announced an enhanced Easter study support study offer for learners, which is especially important for those from deprive...
Shirley-Anne Somerville
SNP
My apologies, Presiding Officer. Mr Doris was remarkably and unusually quiet, but I think that I got the gist of his question around Easter study. What is ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Thank you, cabinet secretary. I am sure that Mr Doris will write to you in the coming days if that was not his question.