£1m education pledge 'broken'

Published on Friday 11 September 2009 22:05

THE Scottish Government has been accused of failing to deliver on a £1 million promise to fund outdoor education for older pupils.

The claim came yesterday as a poll showed that more than two-thirds of Scots say secondary school pupils should receive a week of activities like hill-walking, abseiling, canoeing or camping free every year.

Now the Tories, who commissioned the poll, are calling on the SNP administration to back an outdoor activity scheme after claiming funding was secured at the last budget.

The party's schools spokeswoman Liz Smith said: "The SNP government promised us 1 million in this year's budget but we are yet to see the money."

The party's plans would see every secondary school pupil in Scotland entitled to a week's residential course in outdoor education.

"This experience would enrich the lives of the pupils involved, provide them with a knowledge and appreciation of unfamiliar environments and communities, helping them to build confidence and self-esteem," she added.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said ministers were "committed to every pupil having outdoor learning opportunities as part of their school education."

She added that this was an "integral aspect" of reforms to the school curriculum, which all councils have committed to delivering.