Education ‘is SNP’s mark of shame’
THE SNP’s record on education is a ‘mark of shame’ and its failing school curriculum should be reviewed, Ruth Davidson will tell her party’s conference today.
The Scottish Tory leader will announce that her party will launch a root-and-branch review of the Curriculum for Excellence in response to a ‘collapse in standards’.
She pledged her review will come up with ‘practical recommendations’ for changes.
In the keynote address in Glasgow, she will say: ‘It is time to get rid of the waffle, and the theories that have failed, and restore Scotland’s reputation as providing the best education in the world.’ She will condemn the SNP’s record on education after ten years in power, branding it a ‘disgrace’.
Nicola Sturgeon has repeatedly said closing the attainment gap between rich and poor children in schools is her top priority.
Miss Davidson will say: ‘This SNP Government’s handling of our education system over the last decade in power has been shameful – and change needs to happen.
‘Standards in reading, maths and science are now getting worse according to an international survey. Scotland does not perform above the average in anything.
‘The Sutton Trust, a leading education charity, last month said this: “There is no specific area where able children in Scotland really excel.” What an absolute disgrace. What a mark of shame. So much for your social justice, Nicola.’
Miss Davidson will praise the effort of teachers ‘in spite of the SNP incompetence that’s hampering them from doing their job’.
She will argue the ‘blame lies with a school system that, thanks to this SNP Government, isn’t working’.
A spokesman for Education Secretary John Swinney said: ‘The Scottish Government will listen not to the turn-and-run Tories but to our international advisers who have told us to be urgent in what we do, but patient about results.’