Scottish Greens renew call for 2021 exams to be cancelled
Scottish Greens education spokesperson Ross Greer MSP has called on the education secretary to finally give young people and teachers the certainty they deserve and announce that the 2021 Higher and Advanced Higher exams will be cancelled when he addresses Parliament tomorrow.
The Scottish Greens first called for exams to be cancelled and replaced by a continuous assessment model in May, when it became clear that the 2021/22 school year would face a level of disruption like no other.
Ross Greer MSP said:
“Young people have already lost a huge amount of in-person teaching this year, with thousands losing more every day due to the pandemic and the need to self-isolate.
“One in four S4-S6 pupils has experienced a covid related absence, with some having missed six or more weeks, whilst others have been fortunate enough to avoid this completely. There is simply no fair way for all of these young people sit the same exam in May as if they’ve had an equal opportunity to prepare for it.
“Young people have experienced enough stress and anxiety in 2020 to last a lifetime and, as is often the case, it is those from the most deprived communities who have been affected the most by covid-related disruption.
“It’s been clear for some time that the 2021 exams cannot take place in a fair manner. The education secretary must listen to teachers, pupils and parents, accept this reality and put alternative arrangements in place immediately.”