HALCRO JOHNSTON WELCOMES REVIEW OF “FAILING SNP EDUCATION POLICY”
Jamie Halcro Johnston MSP, Scottish Conservative MSP for the Highlands and Islands, has welcomed the decision of the Scottish Parliament to force John Swinney, the SNP Education minister, to review the Curriculum for Excellence.
Mr Swinney was forced to announce the review after a Scottish Conservative motion in the Scottish Parliament attracted all-party support from Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green MSPs. The MSPs voted to back a Conservative motion recognising “serious concerns” about “fundamental failings” around subject choice in schools.
Mr Halcro Johnston said: “This was a major defeat for the SNP Government and a humiliation for John Swinney and Nicola Sturgeon.
“We simply don’t believe their assurances about the performance of our schools under their watch and neither do many people who work in education judging by the feedback I have been receiving here in Moray and that other MSPs have been receiving.
“I am seriously concerned about the way subject choices in our schools have been reduced and this concern is borne out by a Holyrood survey of school children who fear that their future prospects are being limited.
“A previous report issued by Highlands and Islands Enterprise also highlighted the gravity of this problem across the north of Scotland.
“We need a full review of this failing SNP education policy.”
Cllr Tim Eagle (Conservative – Buckie), a member of Moray Council’s Education and Young People’s Committee, said: “Here in Moray we are working hard to give our children every opportunity in life.
“Our teachers are doing everything they can to ensure as wide a provision as possible but they are facing real difficulties in delivering the courses they would like to, particularly at S4 level.
“I hear this time and time again when I visit schools and talk to staff and parents.
“Children only have one chance of a school education and we need to give them the opportunity to realise their potential which they can’t do if the schools can’t deliver the courses.”
Mr Halcro Johnston added: “We should remember that when she became First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon promised that education would be her priority.
“ As we all now know that was a hollow promise and she, like her predecessor Alex Salmond, has devoted all her energies to agitating about independence.
“That represents 12 long years of neglect and I fear that we are now reaping the results.”
