Now release OECD report

IN her evidence to the parliamentary inquiry on Wednesday, Nicola Sturgeon claimed that the SNP

Government had “no intention” of not releasing information to the committee. Does that apply to all documents which should be in the public domain?

Given her claims of transparency, Scots are entitled to ask why the OECD report on educational standards is being delayed until after the May election.

According to Dr Keir Bloomer, the architect of Curriculum for Excellence, there is “no reason” why the report cannot be published and “the sooner the better”. He added: “The only reason the Government can possibly have for seeking to maintain secrecy over this review is that it’s trying to get the OECD to alter what it says, and that to my mind is completely insupportable.”

If the electorate are to believe Ms Sturgeon’s claims of transparency it is vital that this report is published now – well before the May election – so voters can scrutinise the actual performance of Scottish education in recent years.

Perhaps a clue the report is not being published is that the last OECD report showed a lamentable decline in Scottish educational performance. Has this continued? Electors have a right to know.

William Loneskie,

Lauder.