Scottish govt must use budget boost to improve education: Labour

EDINBURGH: The Scottish Government must use the billions in extra cash delivered in the Chancellor’s Budget to improve the education system, Labour has said.

Pam Duncan-Glancy, the party’s education spokesperson, said ministers must show “vision and ambition” for pupils across the country. She accused the Scottish Government of doing “untold damage” to the education system in Scotland.

Ms Duncan-Glancy pointed to Scotland’s falling international education rankings and the recent row over a fall in higher history grades. She said the Chancellor’s Budget should be used to improve learning standards in Scotland.

Rachel Reeves said she would deliver an extra £1.5 billion for Holyrood this year and a further £3.4 billion next year.

Ms Duncan-Glancy said the increase in Holyrood’s Budget means the SNP has “nowhere to hide”. She said: “The SNP has let down generations of children and young people in Scotland and done untold damage to Scotland’s once world-class education system.

“Exam results are declining, the attainment gap is widening and trust in the SQA is collapsing – the need for change is clear, but all the SNP is offering is a rebranding exercise.

“For 14 years the Tories have provided cover for the SNP’s woeful record, but now that Labour has put an end to Tory austerity the SNP has nowhere to hide.”

She said the Scottish Government should use the Budget boost to deliver a “much-needed change in direction” for education in Scotland, “after years of SNP neglect”.

She added: “Education can transform lives and spread opportunity for all – it is vital that the SNP reverses the decline it has overseen. “The SNP must show vision and ambition for Scottish education, deliver genuine reform and deliver opportunities for all Scotland’s young people.” The Scottish Government has been approached

for comment.