Tories spell out concerns

TORIES today said concerns voiced by foreign diplomats over the sharp decline in foreign language assistants coming to teach in Scotland’s schools should act as a wake-up call to the SNP government.

Consul Generals in Edinburgh from France, Germany, Spain, Italy and China have highlighted the 80 per cent decline over the past six years.

Scottish Conservative education spokeswoman Liz Smith MSP said: “There are now just 59 FLAs in Scotland’s schools, down from 284 in 2005. These worrying statistics reflect a more widespread concern.

“This plea for action needs to be heeded to protect and promote Scotland’s role in the world.”