7,000 teachers set to strike over 'vague' new Scots curriculum

Published on Friday 15 May 2009 22:05

TEACHERS have warned they will ballot on industrial action unless the government gives "explicit guidance" and more cash for the new curriculum.

Members of the Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association (SSTA), at their annual conference in Peebles yesterday, also demanded that the introduction of the Curriculum for Excellence be delayed until books and coursework are created.

The curriculum, originally due in all schools in August this year, has already been delayed by a year after teachers said it was not ready.

Speaking at the conference, Alan Taylor, executive member of the SSTA, said the guidance so far issued on the curriculum had been "woolly" and "vague" and looked like a "rehash" of the existing curriculum.

He demanded details on how Scotland's children should be taught, rather than the current stress on teacher flexibility.

He said: "We don't need every class teacher to be making up their own courses."

Independent school headteachers, who have more freedom than state school heads, have previously said they would not introduce the system, as they believed it was not ready.

Other critics have warned parents would feel their children were being treated like guinea pigs if they were not given more information on how the changes would affect their youngsters.

The Curriculum for Excellence is being created to replace the existing guidelines for five to 14 year-olds.

The proposals will cover a wider age range, from three to 18, and usher in a change in examinations.

Standard grade exams will be scrapped and replaced by a new "General grade" from 2014. However, that has also been controversial, as critics say the form of exams must be set before a new curriculum is introduced.

Highers are expected to remain as the "gold standard" of Scottish school education.

Members of the SSTA, which represents about 7,000 members of the secondary school profession, made the calls as part of two emergency motions.

SSTA president Ann Ballinger warned teachers were already working longer hours than they were contractually obliged to, and said changes could undermine the exam system by removing external verification.

The Scottish Government said: "Curriculum for Excellence has been taken forward as a partnership with all those involved in Scottish education – including the SSTA, who are on the management board.

"So it is disappointing to see old-fashioned tactics being proposed on something as important as the future education of Scotland's young people and giving teachers the autonomy they requested."