Teachers' union calls for delay in new secondary curriculum

A TEACHING union has pledged its opposition to plans for a new curriculum to be rolled out in secondary schools in August.

The Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association (SSTA) stance comes in response to Education Secretary Mike Russell's announcement confirming that the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) will be implemented in the autumn term.

The curriculum, which is already in place in primary schools, is designed to give teachers more freedom and make lessons less prescriptive.

However, teachers have expressed "anger and concern" at the plans. After a meeting of the union in Edinburgh, SSTA general secretary Ann Ballinger said: "The current and long-standing SSTA position was reiterated: there must be a delay in the introduction of CfE.

"A delay in the introduction of the new examination system would inevitably follow."

The new qualifications are not due for more than three years. The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) union also want the qualifications to be delayed.

A survey carried out by SSTA found 89 per cent of teachers wanted more resources before they begin teaching the CfE; 78 per cent said clarification of course content was essential.