Schools crisis ‘hitting mental health of pupils’
Teen’s letter to Nicola on subject cuts
A SCHOOL pupil has warned Nicola Sturgeon that reduced subject choices are affecting the ‘mental health’ of youngsters, parents and teachers amid fears over a narrowing curriculum.
In a letter to the First Minister, the 16-year-old expressed concern at being denied the opportunity to sit four desired subjects at Higher level.
The youngster complained of being ‘stuck’ and not knowing what subjects to study, while fearing that ‘limitations’ set by the school could result in rejection by universities.
The letter is one of several sent to Miss Sturgeon and Education Secretary John Swinney regarding the narrowing of subject choice in Scotland. The SNP leader has been accused of failing to listen to concerns about teacher shortages and cuts to the curriculum.
But yesterday a series of letters that were sent to Miss Sturgeon and Mr Swinney were published under freedom of information legislation.
In one, the 16-year-old school pupil told Miss Sturgeon of plans to study Higher history and Higher sociology with a view to a social work course at Dundee University requiring four As and a B. But the school – which is not identified – said it could not offer the necessary subjects. The youngster then asked to study Higher geography and Higher classical studies, but again this was rejected. The pupil told the First Minister: ‘I am now stuck.
‘I am worried about the competition at Dundee University – this is very scary for me, as social work is a career that I have been wanting to pursue since I was 11-years-old. It is very disappointing for me as I am now trying to revise for my Highers with this in the back of my head which is starting to affect my mental health.’
In another letter, a parent warned that their child was under ‘considerable stress’ after being forced to travel to different schools to study the subjects desired.
Tory education spokesman Liz Smith said: ‘The list of concerns from teachers, parents and pupils about subject choice under the SNP seems to be endless. Children just aren’t getting enough opportunities to study the core subjects previous generations have benefited from. This harms their quality of education now and their prospects for the future. Scotland’s education system used to be the envy of the world, but with the SNP at the helm it’s in decline.’
Mr Swinney has dismissed growing complaints about teacher shortages and shrinking subject choice, claiming they were merely political.
It came after Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson unveiled figures showing 112 Scots secondary schools have combined classes for three levels of pupils, with another 11 having four.
But Mr Swinney accused Miss Davidson of ‘cooking up the moanfest’.
‘This is very scary for me’