CONS- ERIC HOLFORD

Is our Education System Really Fit for the 21st Century?

Alvin Toffler (1928-2016), an American writer, futurist, and businessman said that:“the illiterate of the 21st Century aren’t those who can’t read or write; but those who can’t learn, un-learn and re-learn!”

Education really hasn’t changed in centuries: A teacher standing at the front of the classroom, providing knowledge to a classroom of young people, based on a curriculum that was probably out of date the day the text book was published; and all in the hope at least some of the information will stick and the pupil will pass an end-of-year exam.

This might have been applicable in my parents or grandparent’s day; when a job was probably for life so it’s no wonder: Scotland’s once revered education system is slipping so far behind other countries.

In 2007, the SNP should have grabbed hold of education and brought it kicking and screaming into the 21st Century; instead tinkering around the edges with failed schemes like Curriculum for Excellence, which has caused

Scotland’s young people to fall so far behind their peers in neighbouring countries.

In a world where new jobs, technologies and ways of life are evolving at ever faster rates: surely it’s about time Scotland’s leaders (politicians) learn from their mistakes, look at successful education programmes in other countries and deliver a better way of learning for Scotland’s next generation? If successful in

May’s Scottish Elections, as an MSP: I will make it one of my priorities to at least try to find ways of delivering better education for Scotland’s young people.

Education must change! It can no longer be about just spoon-feeding lesson plans and passing end of year exams, but preparing Scotland’s young people for jobs that in some cases don’t even exist today.