Schools shake-up support pledged

Jun 3 2012

The Education Secretary has insisted there is no alternative to the shake-up in the school curriculum despite teachers' concerns.

Support is being offered to ensure the transition to the Curriculum for Excellence across Scottish schools, Michael Russell told the Scotland on Sunday newspaper.

Union delegates at the Educational Institute of Scotland will be asked next week to consider striking unless new school exams are delayed by a year.

It follows concerns that some schools are not ready for the national 4 and 5 examinations.

Mr Russell told the newspaper: "There is a lot of pressure. The workload pressure that the new curriculum brings, yes, I recognise that.

"But to be blunt, I don't see an alternative because I think we are well down the route of introducing it.

"What I need to do is to offer as much support as I can."

The motion that raises the prospect of industrial action was tabled by the union's Renfrewshire and South Lanarkshire local associations.

It reads: "(We agree) that this AGM instruct Council to enter into negotiations with the Scottish Government and local authorities to secure a national delay of one year in the implementation of the new National 4 and 5 examinations. Where a delay cannot be agreed this AGM calls for an immediate ballot for industrial action up to and including strike action."