Testing time for pupils

THE decision taken by Scottish Education Secretary John Swinney to scrap this year’s exams marks a troubling but necessary development in the coronavirus crisis.

Parents and pupils will be disappointed and worried that exams for which youngsters have been preparing for years will not take place in the coming months. The legitimate concerns that Mr Swinney’s action will provoke are understandable.

But the Education Secretary had little choice. The academic year has been brutally cut short by coronavirus. After schools close this afternoon, it may be several months before they open their doors again.

To hold exams in these circumstances would be to ignore all expert advice on public contact during the pandemic.

For countless families, the closure of schools will mean real challenges when it comes to childcare in the weeks ahead. Across Scotland, the disruption will be felt hard. What, though, was the alternative? As coronavirus spreads and its death toll rises, drastic action is necessary.

Pupils in S4-6 will receive exam grades based on prelim results and course work. For most, this should provide a fair and acceptable outcome but there must be a dependable appeals process for those who feel their awarded grades don’t fairly reflect their abilities.

Parents concerned that their children will lose out educationally because of school closures should take comfort from the fact that this generation of teenagers is perfectly at home working on laptops and tablets. With the support of dedicated teachers and families, pupils should get through the difficult times to come without any significant damage to their prospects.

These are unprecedented times and they require unprecedented solutions. The closure of schools and the cancellation of exams certainly fit that description.

There are uncertain times ahead for young Scots. It’s crucial they feel fully supported while circumstances conspire to disrupt their education.