Will schools stop teaching languages?

THE number of pupils gaining qualifications in French in S4 has dropped by two-thirds amid fears modern languages could disappear from schools.

Concerns have been raised since the figure plummeted after the SNP introduced the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE).

The number of exam passes in French has fallen by 64 per cent, from 27,626 to 9,854, since 2014.

Professor Jim Scott analysed recent exam results, which also showed a 61 per cent drop in German passes at National 3, 4 and 5 levels. He concluded that modern languages have been ‘very badly affected’ by the SNP’s curriculum changes.

Professor Scott, of the University of Dundee, said: ‘My concern is that modern languages, if we’re not careful, are going to disappear altogether.

‘Less able children are not able to do languages because quite a lot of schools stop them in S2 and make them optional.

‘The less able are being cut off at the root and the most able are being squeezed by the curriculum.’

His fears come after a disappointing performance in exams across Scotland, with the worst pass rate in four years, despite Nicola Sturgeon pledging to make education her priority.

Experts and politicians have voiced concerns over falling attainment, which dropped by almost a third in some areas following the introduction of the heavily criticised CfE.

Many say this is due to a narrowing of the curriculum, with less subject choice for pupils resulting in a drop in the number of entries for

‘Pupils let down by SNP complacency’

science, maths and modern languages.

Scottish Conservative education spokesman Liz Smith has called on Education Secretary John Swinney to order an urgent review.

She said: ‘Scottish schools were once known for the broad- based education they provided to pupils.

‘Under the SNP, that gold standard reputation is being squandered.

‘The decline in subject choice is one of the biggest concerns being raised by parents and it’s something we’ve been raising with the SNP for months.

‘John Swinney needs to get a grip and order an immediate review into what is going on.’

She added: ‘The real worry is that pupils from poorer areas are losing out the most. We cannot allow another generation of pupils to be let down by the SNP’s complacency.’

The Government has also been urged to drop standardised testing and reinstate the Programme for International Student Assessment.

Scottish Labour education spokesman Iain Gray said: ‘Scotland’s schools should be the best in the world.

‘But the SNP is attempting to remove an internationally recognised standard of educational attainment. This is an inward-looking step and could have a detrimental effect.

‘The SNP should drop this decision.’

A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘Our focus is on a young person’s achievement at the end of their senior phase, not just in a single year.

‘Young people are gaining a broader range of qualifications and the proportion leaving school with qualifications has increased in recent years.’

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