The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Swinney: Pisa report is a reality check
Not an option to ignore damning findings on pupils’ standards
Education secretary John Swinney admits failing to respond to this week’s damning indictment of Scotland’s education system is not an option.
In a frank admission, the Deputy First Minister conceded he would not be “facing up to reality” if he didn’t feel the need to address worrying statistics showing the performance of Scotland’s schools has plummeted.
Data released on Tuesday revealed Scottish schools have recorded their worst ever results in maths, reading and science as part of an international study of educational performance.
The Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) shows, for the first time since the programme was set up in 2000, Scottish pupils’ performance in all three key subjects has fallen to “average”.
The news has led to opposition politicians branding the SNP’s reign a “decade of educational failure”. While Mr Swinney didn’t go as far when he spoke to the media during a visit to Dundee’s new Harris Academy, he conceded swift action will need to be taken.
The Perthshire North MSP said: “What I want to make clear is that anyone who says to me we should look at the Pisa statistics and do nothing is not facing up to reality.
“I set out a number of measures which the Government put in place when we got the first sign that educational performance was declining last Spring.
“Those measures are around closing the attainment gap, around improving assessment within education, about clarifying the curriculum and about making schools the absolute hub of our educational environment – more control of education at the heart of schools.
“That’s the agenda we want to take forward and that’s the agenda which I think responds effectively to what the Pisa statistics show to us.”
Schools like Dundee’s new £31 million facility, officially opened yesterday, are essential to achieving this vision, according to Mr Swinney.
The Deputy First Minister believes “modern learning environments” such as Harris can help Dundonian youngsters fulfil their potential.
The Scottish Conservatives have meanwhile said the findings represent a “total failure”.
Shadow education secretary Liz Smith said: “Money has gone in, but results have fallen. This demonstrates the real problem we face.
“It is a total failure of leadership from ministers, educational leaders and government agencies. Between them, they have wasted money, squandered the powers of devolution and let parents, pupils and teachers down.”