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31 Oct 2012
The SNP education secretary Mike Russell has been accused of personally intervening in the new school curriculum to ensure more Scottish texts are used.
Senior teachers alleged that Mr Russell’s interference has led to “dire” Scottish works replacing the likes of Shakespeare and Dickens, it was reported this morning.
If proven, it means the Scottish Government will have politicised the classroom, and comes months after the SNP was accused of writing out the UK’s role in the Second World War from history lessons.
The Scottish Conservatives have tabled a series of questions in an attempt to get clarity on the matter, and have now written to Mike Russell demanding an explanation.
Scottish Conservative education spokeswoman Liz Smith MSP said:
“I have been very concerned about this issue for some time as a result of the discussions with English teachers, headteachers and also with representatives of both the SSTA and the EIS.
“There is clearly a strong feeling in the profession that the widely held concerns among English teachers about the new National and Higher examinations have been ignored.
“And worse still there are allegations being made that the Cabinet Secretary intervened in the SQA consultation process.
“That would be a completely unacceptable state of affairs, and that is why I am seeking answers to important questions about what communications did take place between SQA and the Cabinet Secretary’s office and whether any specific instructions were issued.”
For more on the story see today’s Daily Telegraph Scottish edition.
