The SNP’s plans to reintroduce exams in 2022 for pupils ‘must not be a temporary reprieve’, the Scottish Conservatives have said.
The Sunday Times and Mail on Sunday have reported that the SNP Government’s Education Recovery Strategy is set to pave the way for exams to return next year.
However, the document which is set to be published in the coming days is also set to include contingency plans for continuous assessment should exams need to be cancelled again and suggestions of eventually doing away with end-of-term exams.
Shadow Education Secretary Oliver Mundell says the SNP must rule out any radical plans to scrap traditional exams for Scottish pupils, especially in light of the disruption they have suffered over the last two years.
Scottish Conservative Shadow Education Secretary Oliver Mundell MSP, said: “Those involved in Scottish education will be breathing a sigh of relief that exams look set to return next year. However this must not be a temporary reprieve from the SNP.
“Traditional exams are a cornerstone of Scotland’s educational system. They are the fairest and best way of judging what pupils know and what they can do. The SNP must commit to retaining them for the long-term.
“The SNP have presided over chaos in our exam system during the pandemic, but that should not be used as an excuse to ditch rigorous exams going forward. The failures lie with the lack of leadership from SNP Ministers, not the system.
“Nicola Sturgeon left students, parents and teachers in limbo over the summer period when she refused to rule out a radical move to scrap exams.
“Ditching exams would remove one of the last hallmarks of Scotland’s world-leading education system. The SNP have already overseen Scotland sliding down international league tables.
“It is time for the SNP’s Education Secretary to guarantee that next year won’t just be a one-off return for exams. They must be used as a platform to revitalise and strengthen Scotland’s educational standards going forward, which have been significantly diminished under the SNP.”
Notes: The Sunday Times article is here: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/exams-to-return-for-scottish-pupils-in-2022-60lxd66m8