ON TWITTER

#HIGHERS

Next year's Higher and Advanced Highers exams are to be cancelled in Scottish schools. Education Secretary John Swinney said the decision was based on the disruption that Covid has caused to the education system rather than safety concerns.

@livvydouglas said: “What an absolute joke of a decision, @John Swinney. You do realise this puts more pressure on us as now we are expected to perform perfectly in the prelims and in every class test to ensure good marks? This gives us no time to breathe or relax as we will now be stressing over every small class test and assessment. This is disgusting. Some people will be leaving school at the end of the year without having ever sat an actual exam.”

@Sonofstephen3 posted: “Swinney panders to parents at every turn, failing the very profession he is there to represent. Those qualifications will mean squat to universities next year as they are not meeting a standard of assessment.”

@Annmagennis commented: "Swinney needs to resign. He has just ruined the lives of these students.”

@Johnstuart1792 observed: “Outrageous. It’s a popularity contest. Can you guarantee me that not one teacher will abuse their position to give good passes, or take away passing grades from a pupil they don’t like? Or simply misjudge a pupil’s skill?”

@7Stirling said: “No doubt this will handily paper over how much further education attainmant has slipped down the PISA ratings since the SNP have been in charge.”

@Jethart said: “They won't need Highers as Brexit will lead to no jobs.”

@Calelcombe posted: “The exam and education systems in the UK are out of date, out of touch and flawed anyway. Teach collaboration, creativity and real problem solving, not how to pass a test.”

@Gibbo263 remarked: “So no formal assessment. Wy even bother with school if the teachers are just going to pen the kids up?”

@Msug90 replied: “And replaced with what? I’m not a fan of exams, but you can’t get rid of educational assessments entirely.”

@Jackdaly11 said: “They’ve trashed a generation’s future.”

@wa yseyways added: “This is o nly because they can’t lower the bar far enough for the kids educated by the SNP to pass.”