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30 Sep 2012
Concerns have been expressed about classic literature such as Shakespeare and Dickens being dropped from the new English curriculum.
It has been reported today that pupils will instead be taught about The Steamie, the Eighties comedy by Rab C Nesbitt actor Tony Roper, and Gregory’s Girl.
Teaching unions have described the introduction of a compulsory Scottish text as a “distortion” of the curriculum.
Scottish Conservative education spokeswoman Liz Smith MSP said:
“It is extremely important that youngsters in Scottish schools have a good awareness and understanding of Scottish literature, some of which is finest classical literature in the world.
“It is also right that pupils should be examined on these texts.
“What is not right however, is the insistence that teachers are about to be forced to teach more Scottish texts and restrict the choice of literature studied simply because the Scottish Government believes these texts matter more than other literature.
“English teachers across the country have been expressing concerns about this for some months now and, just as importantly, they have been expressing even more concerns that their feedback to the SQA consultation has largely been disregarded.
“It is my understanding from the letters and emails that I have received and from what is being reported in the teaching unions, that a great many of them have made their feelings known to the SQA but the Scottish Government has carried on regardless.
“This is a completely unacceptable situation and one which runs counter to the whole philosophy of the Curriculum for Excellence.
“It is time the Scottish Government revealed what was said in the SQA English consultation exercise and time it was asked to explain why it is forcing through this unpopular and unwanted change.”
