PUPILS TO HOLD PROTEST OVER SQA ASSESSMENT

Protest will be held in George Square for second year

OUTRAGED schoolkids are to hold a protest today against plans to introduce end of year assessments. Youngsters are to descend on George Square to voice their anger amid claims promises have been broken by education chiefs.

Thousands of teenagers have signed an online petition calling for the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) to withdraw proposals for “final assessments”, which they say amount to little more than exams.

The Scottish Government confirmed in December these would not take place for Higher or Advanced Higher pupils due to the ongoing pandemic.

One of the protest’s organisers Rauf Ali, a student at Hillhead High, said: “We were told they would be gathering evidence throughout the year for our final grade but when we got back to school after lockdown the SQA said they were sending papers to each school for our final grade.

“It means the work many of us have done all year round is going to be completely ignored.

“There’s suddenly so much we have to study in a short space of time and if we fail, we fail.”

It marks the second school year running in which Glasgow teenagers have protested against the SQA with the East End’s Erin Bleakley leading a charge last summer which ultimately saw the Scottish Government reverse a decision to adjust grades based on postcodes.

Unlike in 2020, however, each school has been given the freedom to choose how it grades pupils.

“It’s difficult to study at home,” Rauf, 17, added. “It’s unfair to students and we have just been lied to.”

An SQA spokesman said: “We fully appreciate that this is an anxious time for young people across Scotland, after a challenging year.

“Following the cancellation of exams by the Scottish Government, this year’s alternative certification model has been co-created by the National Qualifications Group with representation from across the education system, including parents and learners.

“There is no requirement to replicate a full formal exam.”

A GCC spokeswoman said: “Our schools are doing all that they can to make sure our young people are given the proper support.”

The socially distanced protest begins at 2pm. To view the petition, visit: https://tinyurl.com/fe82w998