Robert Burns
IN BRIEF
Salmond promises training for the post-16 unemployed The First Minister has promised every 16 to 19-year-old a training or learning place if they are not already in a job, Modern Apprenticeship or education. He unveiled the ‘Opportunities for All’ initiative in
the SNP Government’s programme earlier this month. Alongside the plan, a ‘jobs agenda’ was at the heart of the programme with a focus on modernising the careers service.
EIS announces strike ballot over pensions Teachers will be balloted on strike action this autumn over proposed changes to pensions. The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) will recommend its members vote in favour of a strike. Its executive committee will send out ballot papers this month, with action set to begin in November. EIS general secretary Ronnie Smith claimed teachers had already taken their fair share of pain.
“It is the most normal thing in the world for children to learn about their history, their languages, and their literature”
Indeed the word ‘normal’ crops up often in debates concerning Scottish tradition and history. Writer and broadcaster Billy Kay, author of Te Mither Tongue, says: “It is the most normal thing in the world for children to learn about their history, their languages, and their literature. Tat is the norm for every country in Europe, with the possible exception of Scotland. To hear some of the objections that were provoked when the [Government] announced the plan shows how warped some people’s perspective on the history of Scotland is. My wife is Portuguese and to her, this is just so bizarre that anyone – who’s a native of a place – to object to the culture of that place being taught. All we are trying to do is give children pride in who they are.” And for John Hodgart, principal teacher of
English at Garnock Academy, north Ayrshire, this means casting out the tourist stereotype of “porridge, tartan and haggis”. He adds: “We need to have an appreciation of the full range of diverse languages and voices in Scotland. Tis may encourage a more tolerant and accepting view of other voices and other identities from elsewhere. We need to develop a confidence in who we are – to unravel the unthinking
prejudices, basically, snobbery, about some voices and accents. Ten you can begin from where you are as an articulate, confident Scot.” Former Scottish
Education Minister Brian Wilson paints a less romantic picture of Scottish culture. He
calls Allan’s suggestion that a key failure of the Scottish education system was delivery of basic information to pupils about their own country “delusory”. In fact, the education system’s actual vulnerability was the failure to deliver acceptable standards of literacy and numeracy. Tis is coupled with the fact that Scotland was “probably the most hopelessly monoglot society in Europe already,” Wilson says. He adds that while ensuring Scottish content was in the CfE was “entirely proper”, creating a separate, compulsory subject was an unlikely solution. Furthermore, Gaelic is also a contentious inclusion within Scottish Studies. Its revival over the last 30 years has meant the language has enjoyed a positive presence in the education system. But while a government poll of 1,000 Scots showed 90 per cent were in favour of Scottish Studies, the reaction to the importance of Gaelic was only lukewarm. In times of fiscal uncertainty, should schools really be focusing on international languages to give children more of a fighting chance in the jobs market? Allan sounds a robust ‘no’. He says: “All the evidence is that the children who are going through Gaelic education are dramatically better at picking up third languages. Te evidence also
Yvonne Fletcher murder suspect was awarded Heriot-Watt degree The Libyan official suspected of policewoman Yvonne Fletcher’s murder graduated from Heriot-Watt University two years after her death. Matouk Mohammed Matouk allegedly orchestrated the 1984 Libyan embassy siege in London. The graduate in urban design was said to be a leading member of the ‘students’ committee’ that led the takeover. Documents found this month at Matouk’s home in Tripoli include a letter from Robert Smart, his university tutor. It reads: “We are sorry you disappeared recently from the course. Most unfortunate!”
Scots teachers putting the hours in Teachers in Scotland spend more time in the classroom than most of their peers across the developing world. Scottish secondary school staff spend 855 hours a year teaching, revealed an OECD report. Only teachers in Chile, the US and Mexico work longer hours. The annual ‘Education at a Glance’ report also found Scottish teachers are the ninth best paid in the developed world – down one place from last year.
Pupils to help each other to read Schoolchildren of mixed ages who help each other to read could dramatically raise standards, new research has revealed. A study in to reading levels in 129 Fife primary pupils aged 7-12 found benefits from just one 20-minute tutoring session per week. The report’s findings, published by Durham and Dundee universities and Fife Council, said a scheme could be rolled out nationally.
Universities and colleges could merge to save cash Scottish universites could merge as part of a shake-up of further and higher education, the Government said last week. Mike Russell said colleges could also join forces under
plans to “provide the best opportunities” for young people. The review, revealed in a statement to MSPs by the minister, is being commissioned to remove “wasteful duplication”.
19 September 2011
www.holyrood.com 47
© Matthew Stones
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