Good afternoon. Before I call the first item of business, I would like to advise members that I have selected an emergency question from Neil Findlay on the information technology problems at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. This question will be taken after portfolio question time.
Education and Lifelong Learning
Educational Psychologists
Educational psychology services are provided by education authorities in Scotland as a statutory requirement under the Education (Scotland) Act 1980, and educational psychologists are employed directly by authorities to fulfil those duties. We are working in partnership with the national Scottish steering group for educational psychologists to look at appropriate workforce planning at a national level.
A few short weeks ago, I met a student from Elgin who told me that she had just started a two-year master of science course in educational psychology at the University of Strathclyde but had to pay the full £9,365 yearly tuition fees even though, last year, no fees were applicable on the course. I will, of course, write to the minister about her case, but how will the introduction of tuition fees for this course widen access to higher education and tackle the shortage of educational psychologists across Scotland?
I am more than happy to correspond with the member on individual constituents.
Second-language Learning
The educational benefits of learning a second language are well documented and include personal, cognitive, economic and societal benefits. Young people develop increased confidence and better skills in, for example, talking and listening and a greater understanding of how language works.
I thank the minister for that very full reply. Mindful of the fact that a large body of evidence demonstrates that the benefits of a second language extend to subjects across the curriculum, I wonder whether the minister can give me further detail on the Scottish Government’s plans to increase the provision of second-language learning in our schools.
The member makes the good point that the benefits of learning languages extend to other subjects. For that reason, we are working with local authorities to increase the provision of that learning to ensure that by 2020 pupils start their second language in primary 1 rather than primary 6, which is what generally happens at the minute, and that we make steady progress towards that aim. We also plan to introduce a third language in primary 5 in all schools by 2020.
Given the educational benefits stated by the minister and given the future proposals that he has outlined, why has the number of foreign-language assistants fallen from 284 in 2006 to only 59 in 2012? In fact, even though our population is much bigger, Scotland has fewer language assistants than Wales or Northern Ireland.
I understand that the number has gone up to 74 this year from the 59 that Mary Scanlon mentioned.
Scottish Universities (Poll Rankings)
The rankings confirm what we already know about the strengths of our world-class system of higher education. Students who study here—let us not forget that a record number of Scottish students were accepted into our universities this year—can be confident in the quality of what our universities offer, which is precisely why more than 90 per cent of graduates find themselves in positive destinations six months after they complete their degrees.
One consequence of the high standing of Scottish universities is that they attract the best foreign students. The recent “Richer for it” report commented on the number of international students who come here. The Scottish Council for Development and Industry recently warned that its biggest concern for the future of research in Scotland is the United Kingdom Government’s visa policy. Does the cabinet secretary share my concerns about that?
Absolutely. Such concerns are shared across the higher education sector; university principals will make that point. At a recent event on the future of higher education that I took part in at the University of Dundee, every panel member—including Opposition spokespeople on education—agreed that the policy of successive UK Governments has been negative.
Supply Teachers
The Scottish Government undertakes annual teacher workforce planning discussions with local authorities, as represented by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Association of Directors of Education, together with the professional associations, universities, the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council, the General Teaching Council for Scotland and Education Scotland. The exercise includes provision for supply teachers.
The cabinet secretary will be aware of the recent staffing difficulties in the English department at Marr college, where he received a self-evidently excellent education. Will he assure me and my constituents that a lack of appropriately qualified supply teaching staff in that department is now resolved? If not, what help can the Scottish Government give South Ayrshire Council in what is and has been a difficult situation?
I am glad that the quality of the education at Marr college shows so obviously to the member—it was indeed of high quality.
The cabinet secretary will be aware that recent figures show that teacher unemployment is at its lowest level for eight years. I am sure that, like me and others, he very much welcomes that. Will he explain the reasons for that wonderful success?
I welcome the recent figures that show that teacher unemployment is at its lowest level in eight years. The jobseekers allowance claimant count has fallen by 29 per cent in the past year to the lowest August figure since the current time series began in 2005, which endorses the actions that we have taken. We have achieved the drop by cutting student teacher numbers, moderating the supply side of the equation and securing a shared commitment with local authorities to maintain teacher numbers in line with pupil numbers, which ensures a continuing demand for teachers.
Teacher Employment
The Scottish Government discusses a wide range of issues with local authorities—including issues relating to teacher employment—on an individual and a collective basis.
I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. Notwithstanding the SNCT offer that is on the table, which is obviously designed to improve the attractiveness of supply teaching, can the cabinet secretary tell us what measures he believes are being put in place by the local authorities to ensure that it is qualified supply teachers who are employed, rather than other employees in local authorities, who may be seen as lower cost?
There is an obligation to provide teachers to teach in schools—that has been an issue of some contention on other occasions, but I would not expect teachers to be substituted for.
What does the cabinet secretary see as the main benefits of Scotland’s unique offer of a year of probation, which is offered to all those who qualify?
The year of probation is a unique offer and it is an offer that is extremely well thought of worldwide. Prior to the introduction of Scotland’s unique teacher induction scheme, many teachers spent their probationary period working on a piecemeal basis in a variety of schools with little or no continuity of experience or support. It was very much a sink or swim experience.
Question 6, in the name of Helen Eadie, has been withdrawn. The member has provided a satisfactory explanation.
Teacher Employment
There is even more that I can say on this theme, but the Presiding Officer does not look that enthusiastic that I do so.
Angus MacDonald, do you want a supplementary?
I thank the cabinet secretary for that reply and acknowledge his answers to questions 4 and 5.
I should probably say that I refer the member to the answers that I gave earlier, but I assure him that we look at such matters very seriously. I think that the current SNCT pay offer—I urge teachers to accept it—will make a difference and should bring in some who have opted out of supply work. However, the surest guarantee is maintaining the number of teachers.
Young People (Internet Use)
Although regulation of the internet is a reserved matter, we have established a stakeholder group on child internet safety that includes representation from a wide range of sectors. The group is a means of identifying emerging new concerns and is a way of highlighting and taking forward any necessary national action to address those concerns. We will continue to work within our powers with partners such as Police Scotland and the child exploitation and online protection centre to improve the online safety of Scotland’s children. We will announce further steps in this area shortly.
The minister will be aware of the parliamentary debate that I led a few weeks ago that raised awareness about revenge porn and its devastating impact on people affected. We now have a frightening emerging situation of young people being groomed, threatened and bullied into performing sexual acts or dangerous self-harming on the internet. These images and videos are then being used to blackmail young people into doing more extreme acts, which is driving some young people to consider and even attempt suicide. Does the minister agree that this is a very alarming situation indeed? Does she welcome the advice that the child exploitation and online protection centre released this week saying, “Please tell someone. You are not to blame”?
Absolutely. I am very well aware of Christina McKelvie’s parliamentary debate last month. In her response to that debate, my colleague Shona Robison outlined the strategies that she is taking forward to end violence against women. I also endorse what Christina McKelvie said about the CEOP advice and I recognise that Police Scotland has issued advice to child victims of online sexual exploitation, to potential victims and to parents and carers on how to keep safe online. That is a message that we cannot afford not to reiterate time and again. As I said in my original answer to Ms McKelvie, we will announce more steps in this area very shortly.
Can the minister tell me how much of her strategy is focused on peer-led cyberbullying, which she will be aware is a significant problem? In the 70 pages of the Government’s “Behaviour in Scottish Schools 2012” report, cyberbullying is mentioned in only one paragraph. Is she doing enough to tackle cyberbullying in schools?
Online safety in Scotland is monitored by a stakeholder group on child internet safety, which is looking at the issue of cyberbullying. As Christina McKelvie mentioned—and as I think Christina McKelvie is trying to bring to our attention—we cannot do enough on this issue, which is growing and growing. We owe it to all children across Scotland that they should be kept free and safe from harm. As I said in my original answer to Christina McKelvie, we intend to announce more work on this area very shortly.
University of the Highlands and Islands (Meetings)
As universities are autonomous and independent bodies, board meetings are a matter for individual universities and are not generally attended by Scottish ministers, nor do ministers often have meetings with boards. However, ministers meet regularly with a wide range of university chairs and principals. I have met the principal of UHI formally and informally in recent months—also in the absence of a chair.
Regarding the agenda for any of those meetings, would the cabinet secretary agree with me that, if UHI is to flourish by attracting students on to its courses, more appropriate residential accommodation will become a necessity at some of the partner colleges? Given the geography and structure of UHI, private development may be less attractive. Does the cabinet secretary accept that there might be a requirement for public funds to allow this necessary development to take place? Would he be interested in discussing the matter with UHI?
UHI is of course a unique institution, consisting of 13 colleges and other bodies. Representatives of one or two of the colleges have raised issues with me—in particular during my summer tour this year—about accommodation and the difficulty of attracting accommodation. In raising her question with me, the member will probably be mindful of the position in Shetland, as the issue was raised with me by members of the board of Shetland College, one or two of whom I met when I was visiting Shetland.
Given that some of the funding for further education colleges in the Highlands and Islands comes through UHI, with its overhead costs of £15 million, some colleges are asking: how much will be taken out of the funding for colleges as it is filtered down through UHI?
That has been a long-term issue. As the member will know having participated in the discussions on the Post-16 Education (Scotland) Bill and having met other MSPs and me on this specific issue, the Post-16 Education (Scotland) Act 2013 contains provisions that should ensure that an agreed amount of money is taken and that there is a role for the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council.
Glow Network Replacement
I can give the member a positive no. We are not waiting until December. New Glow services are being rolled out now, and they will continue to be introduced and to come on stream in the coming months. That includes services to support the migration of information into Office 365 as well as the introduction of agile, open, best-of-breed systems that will enhance learning for children, young people and practitioners in Scotland.
I find that answer very surprising. The ICT group that the cabinet secretary mentions has described the project as being in chaos, and Education Scotland told Dumfries and Galloway Council that it would not be ready until October 2014. The cabinet secretary spent £5.5 million extending the contract, and he has already spent £80 million on the Glow network, which is not working. Thousands of hours of teachers’ work have been lost, and thousands more are required to rebuild the network. Will the cabinet secretary tell teachers and pupils what they have got for the £80 million that he has spent on Glow?
I would advise the member to be careful about some of the rhetoric surrounding the issue from one or two individuals. It is not borne out by the teacher membership of some of the significant groups, and it was not borne out by a number of people to whom I spoke at the learning festival, or indeed by some of the traffic at the learning festival.
Spare us!
I think that I heard a no there from some members, so clearly they are fully satisfied with what is taking place.
It does not work.
If the member wishes to have access to Glow by means of her own password, I am willing to arrange that. Then she will see how it operates, which will give her huge confidence in what is taking place and in the work of so many people to make it work.
Looked-after Children
The Scottish Government will continue to make sure that the needs of looked-after children, young people and care leavers who have experienced multiple placements are embedded in its wider work to improve outcomes, such as getting it right for every child, curriculum for excellence, additional support for learning and more choices, more chances.
GIRFEC and a stable home life are indeed important factors in stability for looked-after children. However, we know that looked-after children are significantly more likely to use our colleges than to use our universities. Does the minister agree that, with college budgets being cut, we must do more to support looked-after young people with their second-chance education?
We are doing an enormous amount of work to support children who are looked after. I could list a number of things that we are doing on that. We have created the centre for excellence for looked after children in Scotland, or CELCIS, we have strengthened additional support for learning legislation and we are doing much to ensure that practitioners are empowered and given the appropriate training materials. However, the issue persists that the attainment of looked-after children needs to be supported more fully and they need to be given the opportunities that every other child in the country has.
Female College Student Enrolment
Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council figures show that the majority of college learners are female. According to the funding council, the figure for female full-time equivalent students was 68,724 in academic year 2006-07, and 68,642 in 2011-12, which was a change of 0.1 per cent. I am pleased to say that that means that overall learning activity for female learners has been broadly maintained.
I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. He gave the answer very quickly so it was quite difficult to catch the detail, but is not it the case that there has been a sharp decline in the number of part-time students in further education colleges and that the majority of those students are women? What gender impact assessment did he apply before changing college policy and reducing the part-time places available?
We have been clear all along that it is, and was, important at a time of considerable pressure on youth unemployment to move as quickly and as radically as we could to ensure longer and more focused learning opportunities to take account of employment needs. That has been challenging, but it has been successful.
Careers Guidance
The careers information advice and guidance strategy was published in March 2011. It sets the framework for the redesign and improvement of careers guidance for all, and Skills Development Scotland has been modernising its offer to schools and carrying out a series of reviews to ensure that it is meeting the needs of today’s young people. The focus is on developing the career management skills of individuals in order to equip them to seek and grasp career opportunities and to have the agility to cope when their circumstances change throughout their working lives.
In a recent study of the my world of work website, University of Edinburgh academics Cathy Howieson and Sheila Semple confirmed that web-based services should never replace face-to-face contact, because face-to-face contact is most valued by the majority of young people. Given the recent Skills Development Scotland research, in which only 859 pupils out of 200,000 who are registered responded to the survey, does the minister accept that conclusions that are drawn about the value of my world of work from such a small survey should be treated with extreme caution?
My understanding of the Skills Development Scotland customer satisfaction survey is that between 800 and 900 people replied and that the research that Mr Findlay mentioned was based on interviews with about 1,000 young people. I will take the evidence in the round, because the evidence in the round from that research and from previous research demonstrates what we have always said as a Government—that we have not and will not replace front-line careers advisers with web-based services.
School Internet Connections
At a cost of £2.1 million in 2013-14, the Scottish Government funds interconnect 2.0, a high-speed broadband network that provides an internet connection to all 32 Scottish local authorities, which is intended for use by education establishments.
The minister will be aware that connectivity in remote and rural areas provides schools with the ability to offer a wider curriculum. As the Scottish Government is delivering interconnect to 32 local authorities, he will be well aware that it proves a challenge to the authorities in the Highlands and Islands to deliver it to schools because they have the biggest geographical spread—more schools and greater distances to travel. What support is the minister giving them to ensure that we have a level playing field and that children in Barra gain from the service as well as children in Baillieston?
As an island member, I have an interest in that as well. I am never done with being in touch with Highlands and Islands Enterprise and other agencies about some of the issues around rural broadband in the Highlands and Islands.
School Closure Procedures
It is important that local authorities are open and transparent in their consultation with parents, children and communities on school closure proposals. The Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 sets out a clear process for statutory consultation on proposed changes to the school estate, and ministers expect councils to comply fully with those statutory duties.
The cabinet secretary will be aware of Labour-led Fife Council’s plans to close a number of primary schools, notwithstanding the fact that parents’ views have not been taken into account and that the proposals do not make financial sense. Is there anything that the parents of, for example, Crombie, Wellwood and Pitcorthie primary schools can do to ensure that their voices are heard?
I am aware that, on 16 September, Fife Council commenced a phased consultation under the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 on a series of school closure proposals. Those consultations will run over the next three weeks. Full details can be found on Fife Council’s website.
UK Student Visa Rules
As I indicated earlier, we welcome talented people to live, learn, work and remain in Scotland. However, the negative message that is sent to prospective students by the UK Government’s student visa policies is a significant concern. Those policies threaten a detrimental impact on the international competitiveness of Scottish education, create additional burdens on institutions and students, and could well deter prospective students from applying to study in the UK. The Government has made clear its concerns to successive UK ministers of various hues on several occasions.
I thank the minister for that reply and his earlier reply. Is he also aware of the problems facing many students from so-called blacklisted countries in opening bank accounts in Scotland, which mean that many are unable to continue studying and, ultimately, are forced to return home?
I understand that the UK immigration bill is expected to be introduced during the second week in October. That bill will propose that banks should no longer be permitted to operate bank accounts for certain migrants. I also understand that the Home Office intends to consult on additional powers to compel banks to close bank accounts for certain illegal migrants. My understanding is that that should not affect the bank accounts of those who are studying legitimately in Scotland, but I stress that the Scottish Government has not seen the draft legislation, and we will monitor it closely.
Next
Emergency Question