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Agenda item 5 is our inquiry on the purposes of education. The committee's advisers have suggested a list of 20 possible witnesses. We could hear from 10 witnesses, or sets of witnesses, before the summer recess. Do members have any comments on how we should tackle this fairly large task?
Drawing up a list of possible witnesses is difficult. However, it is very important that the trade unions give evidence. Simply inviting the Educational Institute of Scotland would be too narrow.
Do you have any specific suggestions?
Other teaching unions should be invited. The committee knows from its experience with the Standards in Scotland's Schools etc Bill that different trade unions have different views on certain issues. I know that the Headteachers Association of Scotland will give evidence, but I feel that we have to broaden our inquiry.
That is a fair point. Do members agree with Cathy Peattie's suggestion?
I should declare an interest—I am a member of the EIS—but I agree with Cathy too. We will talk to the Scottish Trades Union Congress and to other teaching unions. I do not see any problem with having two or three unions at one evidence session.
Mike Russell was keen that Joe Farrell should come and give evidence. He is involved in this subject and is willing to give evidence.
A few months back when issues such as university access and basic standards in grammar and punctuation were being discussed, I remember that Joe Farrell had strong views. I see no reason why we could not invite him, although opinions differed on the way in which he undertook his analysis.
It would be of great benefit if we were to invite Professor James Tooley. He is professor of educational philosophy at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, so it would not be too difficult for him to get here. He has been a research fellow at the University of Oxford and the University of Manchester and has done a great number of comparative studies on education across the world. Being able to put things in an international context would be useful.
Are members happy with the list that we have, with those three suggestions incorporated?
We will sort out the final list and work out our schedule.
Meeting continued in private until 16:42.
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