Education reform

In the next few weeks, Michael Russell, the education secretary, has to make a very important decision: whether or not he should delay the implementation of Curriculum for Excellence for another year.

The Scottish Conservatives would prefer that there was no delay but we are also mindful of the strong message from teachers and parents that Scottish schools do not feel ready just yet.

While, for a small minority, this might just be negative reaction to change, I believe that for the majority it is a genuine request for more time to prepare the relevant materials and to fully understand exactly how the Curriculum for Excellence will improve educational opportunities across the board.

However, that process will never be complete until there is more clarity about the SQA exam reform which will accompany the Curriculum for Excellence.

The Scottish Government must urgently address three major concerns; how to improve the teaching and testing of basic literacy and numeracy skills in primary school; how to raise the importance of testing subject knowledge rather than just "skills-based learning"; and how to ensure that Highers and Advanced Highers courses are made more available to those pupils who wish to access them.

At present, the examination system lacks sufficient rigour when it comes to testing knowledge and understanding and the more sophisticated analytical skills which employers are desperately seeking just as much as they are improved literacy and numeracy.

The Curriculum for Excellence has so much to offer but the potential for transforming Scottish school education will be seriously constrained unless SQA exam reform can match the ambitious aims of the Curriculum for Excellence.

If a short delay in implementation can achieve this then so be it.

The educational futures of our young people are too important to be the subject of yet more confusion and indecision.

LIZ SMITH MSP

Shadow minister for children, schools and skills

Scottish Parliament