Education powers

Alexander Mckay (Letters, 17 May) is wrong to say that Nicola Sturgeon has complete control of education. No one can. It involves a great variety of factors, eg genetics, health, upbringing, housing, income levels, diet and exercise. These are more relevant than schooling.

Even in the case of the latter, governments have limited powers, eg over teacher training, recruitment and retention, management of schools or the attitudes/actions of pupils and parents.

By promising to eliminate, or even reduce, differences in attainment levels between income groups Nicola Sturgeon showed, at best, astounding naivety. No one with any experience of education would do this. She should have recalled the words of her local poet that “the bestlaid schemes o’ mice an’ men gang aft aglay”.

Even if aims are met, the law of unintended consequences often applies. In England, emphasis on attainment levels has caused major pressure son the health and welfare of children through repeated testing and downgrading the importance of art, music, drama and physical education.

This has discouraged teachers and increased the number leaving their jobs. This is similar to that of those entering the profession, so that the shortage remains.

As health secretary Ms Sturgeon did not much improve public health. She had little control over diet, alcohol, etc. There is no reason to assume that it is different with education.

EUAN BREMNER West Graham Street, Glasgow