Scottish Greens education spokesperson
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.
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.”
