NICOLA Sturgeon has been urged to “change direction” on education reform after a consultation found “no clear consensus” on the government’s proposals.
She was pressed to focus more on resources rather than structural change during First Minister’s Questions at Holyrood.
Scottish Greens co-convener Patrick Harvie said a recent consultation on the Education (Scotland) Bill had shown a lack of clear support for the legislation.
He said: “This week the government released the analysis of yet another consultation on their plans for education reform which have more to do with regional structures than with schools and teachers, and the resources that they need. This is the government’s third time of asking and for the third time they’ve been told that their plans don’t have the support of teachers, of parents, of education professionals, and we know that they don’t have the support of parliament. Isn’t it time to say three strikes and you’re out for these proposals?”
Sturgeon said the plans in the Bill for regional improvement collaboratives were designed to provide the support for teachers to improve attainment and standards in schools.
“Our reforms of education are all about putting teachers and parents at the heart of decision-making in the life of a school because we know that decisions that shape the education of young people are those made by the professionals who know them best, the teachers and also parents as well,” she said.
The First Minister said the government had increased the resources going to schools, including through the Pupil Equity Fund of more than £100 million. She said the money was going directly into the hands of head teachers and had received “very positive feedback”.
The matter could be a major concern for the Scottish Government as it is planning to introduce the Bill before the end of June, yet is facing the prospect of not getting the support of a majority of MSPs.
The Greens want more resources to be spent on recruiting more teachers, including those who teach pupils with additional support needs.
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