Healthy debate on vexed issue

THE COURIER’S investigation into implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence in secondary schools draws to a close today with the Scottish Government robustly defending the fledgling new system.

It is a topic about which there has been no lack of people wishing to have their say, from those at the top of the educational tree disseminating the new courses, to those at the bottom — the most important of all — the pupils studying them.

We uncovered worrying evidence of a system on which a lot of work has yet to be done.

The aims of the Scottish Government in launching Curriculum for Evidence were laudable.

They wanted a new generation of pupils, with a much broader scope of learning leaving school as well-rounded individuals, practically equipped for every challenge.

Such a seismic shift in decades-old teaching methods was always going to encounter difficulties in communication, training and implementation.

It needs time to bed-in and for everyone to become familiar with it. That is exactly what happened in primary schools where Curriculum for Excellence has settled well.

But pupils will begin sitting the first raft of new National 4 and 5 exams in a few weeks. Fears linger that they are “guinea pigs” for those who follow.

The Scottish Government minister responsible has insisted there will be no lowering of standards to take account of the changes – and rightly so.

But it is clear from our study that lessons must be learned from the initial introduction to ensure Curriculum for Excellence does not fail future students.