Statement on Education Secretary's Scottish Learning Festival speech

PAT Scotland has  commented on the speech made today (19 September 2007) by Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop at the Scottish Learning Festival.

Jim O'Neill, PAT's Professional Officer (Scotland), said: "PAT Scotland welcomes the Education Secretary’s commitment to investing in the future of Scottish education. She is clearly committed to raising standards.

"We are particularly pleased by the pledges on graduate fees, pre-school education, school meals, funding and class sizes - key issues affecting the quality of children’s education.

"The Government needs to ensure that local authorities have sufficient funds to implement these changes.

"However, we were hoping to hear commitments on the recent Equal Opportunities Commission Formal Investigation into the Role and Status of Classroom Assistants. PAT will continue to press for the main recommendations to be implemented quickly as a key part of improving the quality of Scottish education.

"PAT is looking for a concerted effort by all concerned to raise the status, morale and remuneration of classroom assistants, who play such an important role in Scotland’s schools. 

"We also wanted to hear a commitment that all teachers completing their induction year will be able to find a permanent post. The Executive has made a considerable investment in their training and the probationers themselves have made a serious commitment in preparing to become teachers. It is wrong that such commitment and talent should be unemployed, especially when teachers are being recruited from overseas."

Notes

PAT Scotland is a section of the Professional Association of Teachers (PAT), an independent trade union representing education and childcare professionals across the UK.