Chamber
Plenary, 30 Sep 1999
30 Sep 1999 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
Non-Executive Business: Education
No, I have just started. Please sit down.
I welcome this opportunity to set out again the clear and positive thinking behind the Executive's decisions on the future of professional conditions of service for teachers in Scotland. A great deal has been spoken and written on the subject in recent weeks, much of it reiterated in the opening speech and most of it misleading. It must have caused unnecessary concern to many teachers and parents.
Let me remind the Parliament of the background to our radical and imaginative strategic agenda for school education. Scotland's children are Scotland's future. Education is the highest priority in "Making it work together", our programme for government, which we published in early September. The programme reinforced our commitment to working together with parents, teachers and pupils to achieve a world-class reputation for Scottish education and to create the high standards in our schools that will be the foundation for success in the future.
To make this vision a reality, we have initiated a radical improvement programme in all aspects of our schools. That includes work on developing the curriculum, on modernising assessment, on new ways of learning, on new forms of school organisation and on improving communications between schools and the communities and parents that they serve.
Our programme is supported by a substantial injection of new resources. Overall, local authorities are budgeting to spend £2.715 billion on education this year. That is an increase of 8.1 per cent on the previous year. We have ensured that those resources are well used. More than half the money that we found in the comprehensive spending review—£377 million—was targeted
through the excellence fund, which directly contributes to raising standards by providing support and assistance to children and teachers in the classroom.
We recognise the need to work together with those who are charged with delivering education to our children. We have consulted on our plans and we continue to do so.
Our approach is constructive and is designed to deliver improvement. We are not seeking to manufacture conflict; in all we do, we strive to avoid it. We want schools and local authorities to work together effectively.
We do that for our children, because it is they and only they who are at the heart of our policies, and to do that—I agree with Ms Sturgeon on this— we must secure the best from our teachers. Successful schools depend on the professionalism, commitment and skill of the head teachers and teachers who manage and staff them. We are lucky in having many teachers of outstanding quality who are dedicated to their task. I take this opportunity to reaffirm my admiration for their work.
I welcome this opportunity to set out again the clear and positive thinking behind the Executive's decisions on the future of professional conditions of service for teachers in Scotland. A great deal has been spoken and written on the subject in recent weeks, much of it reiterated in the opening speech and most of it misleading. It must have caused unnecessary concern to many teachers and parents.
Let me remind the Parliament of the background to our radical and imaginative strategic agenda for school education. Scotland's children are Scotland's future. Education is the highest priority in "Making it work together", our programme for government, which we published in early September. The programme reinforced our commitment to working together with parents, teachers and pupils to achieve a world-class reputation for Scottish education and to create the high standards in our schools that will be the foundation for success in the future.
To make this vision a reality, we have initiated a radical improvement programme in all aspects of our schools. That includes work on developing the curriculum, on modernising assessment, on new ways of learning, on new forms of school organisation and on improving communications between schools and the communities and parents that they serve.
Our programme is supported by a substantial injection of new resources. Overall, local authorities are budgeting to spend £2.715 billion on education this year. That is an increase of 8.1 per cent on the previous year. We have ensured that those resources are well used. More than half the money that we found in the comprehensive spending review—£377 million—was targeted
through the excellence fund, which directly contributes to raising standards by providing support and assistance to children and teachers in the classroom.
We recognise the need to work together with those who are charged with delivering education to our children. We have consulted on our plans and we continue to do so.
Our approach is constructive and is designed to deliver improvement. We are not seeking to manufacture conflict; in all we do, we strive to avoid it. We want schools and local authorities to work together effectively.
We do that for our children, because it is they and only they who are at the heart of our policies, and to do that—I agree with Ms Sturgeon on this— we must secure the best from our teachers. Successful schools depend on the professionalism, commitment and skill of the head teachers and teachers who manage and staff them. We are lucky in having many teachers of outstanding quality who are dedicated to their task. I take this opportunity to reaffirm my admiration for their work.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Sir David Steel):
NPA
The first item of business this morning is a non- Executive debate on motion S1M-172, in the name of Mr Alex Salmond, on education, and amendments to that mo...
Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP):
SNP
To begin, I would like to say a word or two on why the Scottish National party has chosen as the subject of our Opposition debate this morning the pay and co...
Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab) rose—
Lab
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
I will give way in a minute, Hugh. The Executive is the third party in the Scottish Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff in School Education, albei...
Hugh Henry:
Lab
Will Ms Sturgeon tell us whether the SNP recommends paying in full the demand from the teachers' unions for an 8 per cent pay rise this year? Is the SNP prep...
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
No, Mr Henry, I believe in the continuation of the SJNC and that this year's pay dispute is a matter for teachers and COSLA to deal with through the SJNC. Th...
Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab):
Lab
Will Ms Sturgeon inform the chamber whether the SNP councils represented on COSLA supported COSLA's proposed offer?
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
I will do better than that; I will read from a motion that was passed by SNP- controlled Clackmannanshire Council. The motion says: "This council notes with ...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
Before I call on the Minister for Children and Education to reply and move his amendment, I wish to remind members that yesterday's opening speeches overran ...
The Minister for Children and Education (Mr Sam Galbraith):
Lab
I will try to keep to time. I was pleased that the SNP spokesman, Nicola Sturgeon, mentioned children—at least in her speech. One of the striking features of...
Nicola Sturgeon rose—
SNP
Mr Galbraith:
Lab
No, I have just started. Please sit down. I welcome this opportunity to set out again the clear and positive thinking behind the Executive's decisions on the...
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
Which individuals and bodies did the minister consult before taking the decision to set up the independent committee of inquiry? Will he justify his decision...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
Order. Interventions are supposed to be brief.
Mr Galbraith:
Lab
Ms Sturgeon has already made her speech and she should be content with that, be a bit patient and let me deal with the matters before me. As part of our cons...
Nicola Sturgeon rose—
SNP
Mr Galbraith:
Lab
We need to consider why the process of discussion and deliberation, which took so long, led to such an outcome. We need to consider how we can deliver the ki...
Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West):
*
Will the minister give way?
Mr Galbraith:
Lab
No thanks.My job is to raise teachers' salaries to the highest possible level. Like the Prime Minister, I see no reason why some teachers cannot be paid as w...
Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP):
SSP
I do not know whether the fact that the minister has given way is an indication of favouritism. He was asked a question on the committee of inquiry, which I ...
Mr Galbraith:
Lab
The member forgot to point out that representatives of the teaching profession are involved in the committee. Two head teachers, one from a primary school an...
Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
Will the minister give way?
Mr Galbraith:
Lab
I will give way, but for the last time, as I am trying to keep to the time limit.
Michael Russell:
SNP
I hear the minister's point. Will he, however, respond publicly to the official letter that he received from the Scottish Trades Union Congress? The letter s...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
Order. I have no friends.
Mr Galbraith:
Lab
It is a principle of mine always to respond privately to letters that are sent to me. I suggest that the member does the same, rather than, as he always does...
Nicola Sturgeon:
SNP
Will the minister give way?
Mr Galbraith:
Lab
I am winding up.Nevertheless, we have acted decisively and positively to show the way forward. Our approach allows the existing machinery of the SJNC to deli...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
Both front-bench speakers have kept within the time limit, which is a new record for the Parliament. I call on Mr Monteith to do likewise and to move amendme...
Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con):
Con
I am pleased to take part in today's debate, because it is important that someone tries to bring the two sides together. In these days of cosy consensus poli...