Fears of lack of detail in school plans dismissed by minister

Published on Monday 21 September 2009 21:49

EDUCATION secretary Fiona Hyslop has defended the new school curriculum after teachers, academics and politicians criticised it as vague.

Ms Hyslop described the Curriculum for Excellence, due in all schools next year, as a critical part of the education system.

Leading voices in the field have demanded more details for teachers on what it will mean in the classroom.

In yesterday's Scotsman, Lindsay Paterson, professor in educational policy at Edinburgh University, described the aims of the curriculum as "incapable of providing clear guidance as to what will happen next August".

Ann Ballinger, the general secretary of the Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association, warned there could be a postcode lottery, with every school writing its own version.

And a former principal of one of Scotland's top private schools, said the independent sector might simply ignore it.

In The Scotsman today, Ms Hyslop says she has listened to concerns and has answered calls to delay introduction of the curriculum by a year, until 2010.

She defends the lack of detail, saying the government would not tell teachers what to teach. She is also critical of past failures and says these demonstrate the need for change.