Scotland falling behind in education; investment in teachers needed
Ross Greer MSP, Education spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, today (6 Dec) renewed calls for investment in teachers after figures showed Scotland falling behind in international education rankings.
The PISA statistics (Programme for International Student Assessment) assess 15 year-olds in reading, maths and science.
Ross Greer MSP said:
“This drop in performance is clearly a concern. We need to listen to teachers and invest in what they know will make a difference – namely more staff and a simplified workload following years of changes, so that they have more time to connect with their students.
“Other opposition parties have pushed the SNP down the road of unwelcome standardised assessments, and coupled with Scottish Ministers’ talk of bypassing councils in how schools are governed, there is a real danger of pursuing the wrong priorities. If we’re to improve overall performance in schools, and in particular close the attainment gap, we must raise additional revenue so that councils are fully funded, that teachers have the resources they need and that young people across Scotland, particularly those with Additional Support Needs, get the support they deserve.”
PISA 2015, Highlights from Scotland's Results (Scottish Government)