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The Herald Scotland
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Scotland's educational establishment is betraying children and economy
Scotland has, in theory, a strong economic future, but it is a future that demands a workforce with a considerably high level of education and skilling. Our growth industries - renewables, primarily, but also life sciences, tourism, food and drink and a range of rural-based activities including farming, fisheries and forestry - need good people, from welders to lawyers to engineers to scientists. Read more by Andy Maciver Our current educational performance is jeopardising our future economic prospects, yet it is far from clear that they will have them and, bluntly, the educational establishment seems disinterested in doing anything about it. For those who want to cut through SNP and Labour politicians shouting at each other, there is more obviously factual evidence available. The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), the only international school performance study to which Scotland has submitted itself in recent years, offers us data for our children's performance in maths, science and reading which should simultaneously chill us and focus our collective minds. In all three disciplines - maths, reading and science - Scottish children's scores are continually declining. We are now hovering around average. If our trend continues into the next set of PISA data at the end of next year (and there seems little reason to believe that it will not), we will officially see Scottish education, once held up as the envy of the world, delivering a standard below the OECD average. That decline, almost precisely, corresponds with the onset of Curriculum for Excellence (CfE), and it is in this area where the most obvious, rapid and impactful change could be made. CfE was a perfectly reasonable, evidenced concept, but it has suffered from a misinterpreted and bureaucratised implementation which has had a direct impact in children's learning. However there is a way out, and individual pockets of success provide us with a route. Perhaps the most obvious example comes from Berwickshire High School under the leadership of its Headteacher Bruce Robertson. Amidst a raft of other changes to the school's ethos and to the level of expectation placed on children, Mr Robertson injected content based on knowledge into a curriculum which has been largely stripped of it. The outcome was astonishing. In only six years, the proportion of kids achieving at least five Level 5 qualifications in S4 went from around two-fifths to almost two-thirds. The proportion attaining at least five Level 6 qualifications in S5 doubled to over 40 per cent. Scottish children's scores in maths, reading and science are declining in the PISA rankings (Image: free) Berwickshire High's boldness in taking on the blob has reshaped the future of its pupils. Nothing other than old-fashioned Scottish grit prevents this being tried at every school in the country. A knowledge-based, skills-oriented curriculum would take a chunk out of our educational deficit, but it is not the only game in town. The Covid school shutdown continues to have a corrosive impact. Unlike in many European peers, Scotland doubled-down on school closures against the wind of scientific evidence, buckling to the education trade unions and destroying, in effect, a year of education. To make matters worse, we declined to engage in any meaningful catch-up programme, and pupils continue to suffer. We now need to do the right thing by the children we have wronged. We could start by reinstating structure and hierarchy between pupils, parents and teachers. In a post-Covid osmosis which we will inevitably regret, we have allowed an almost complete erosion of this basic tenet of a child's life. We have placed children at the centre of educational decision-making, giving them far too much control over what they learn and how they learn it. This is not the job of a pupil; it is the job of a teacher. Similarly, we have allowed teachers to be placed in a situation where they are responsible for the social growth of a child as much as their academic growth. This is not the job of a teacher; it is the job of a parent. As we learned through data collected from Scottish teachers earlier this year, there has been an exponential increase in absence, abuse and violence directed by children at teachers. No wonder. This is a near-inevitable consequence of any kind of hierarchical structure, and giving children far too much agency over decisions which should be taken for them. Read more The brain's prefrontal cortex - the part which determines judgement and decision-making - is not fully developed until the early 20s. Delegating agency over life-altering decisions to children half this age is absurd. In short, we expect far too much of children's developing brains in a social context, and far too little of their developing brains in an academic context. So, let us go back to a more traditional hierarchy of the sort that was in place when Scottish education indeed was looked upon with envy rather than pity. We can return more respectful behaviour and academic excellence to schools through a series of decisions which adults make on behalf of children. Adults can decide, for instance, that children will not be permitted to access their mobile phones during the school day. Adults can decide what a child will learn, and how they will learn it. Adults can decide that children will wear a school uniform. The list goes on. This is now Scotland's number one long term problem. It is a flashing red light in our economic and political risk register. Every day we fail to tackle it is another day where we risk our country's future prospects. Andy Maciver is Founding Director of Message Matters, and co-host of the Holyrood Sources podcast
Local Germany
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Local Germany
What parents in Germany need to know about the planned schools shake up
For years a lack of investment and ambition has hampered attempts to improve education in Germany. Enter Karin Prien (CDU), Germany's new and super-charged Minister of Education -- officially Minister of Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Young People, or head of the BMBFSFJ -- with ambitious plans to reform schooling in Germany. Prien, who has years of experience in the field as a state education minister for Schlewig-Holstein, is determined to take advantage of the ministry's expanded remit to 'think about education holistically … and from the perspective of children and young people.' So what does this mean in practice? Here are the main planned changes that parents of school kids in Germany can expect. The expansion of all-day schooling With German schoolchildren falling behind their peers in other countries, according to PISA scores , and more and more families with both parents in full-time employment, the minister is determined to push ahead with plans to offer all-day schooling across the country. These plans were originally introduced by the previous traffic light government, and many schools have already started building out new canteens and other school buildings they need to offer all-day schooling. Unfortunately, as many of these projects have fallen behind schedule, the first bill Prien has brought before parliament (which was discussed on Thursday morning) will attempt to delay federal deadlines for all-day schooling by two years, to 2030. READ ALSO: How do pupils in Germany compare in international maths and science tests? More investment in early education, and mandatory testing In interviews, Prien has suggested that the number of children who start school with a poor command of German is responsible for the relative decline in educational achievement in Germany in recent years. With the goal of raising standards, and halving Germany's school dropout rate by 2035, Prien wants to introduce mandatory testing for children at the age of four. She has also talked about introducing mandatory support for children whom the tests identify as being behind in their development. During a recent speech, Prien stated that the federal government would 'invest billions in daycare centres and schools.' The minister has also announced her intention to relaunch the language daycares ( Sprach-kitas ), and extend the Starting Chance ( Startchancen ) programme in schools to Ki tas in socially deprived areas. Prien also wants to review nationwide quality standards for Kitas , with a view to placing more emphasis on education and less on childcare. Advertisement No more mobile phones in primary schools? Prien has taken issue with children spending too much time in front of screens. School children in Germany are among the world leaders in screentime, according to a recent OECD report which found that 15 year olds in Germany and Austria use electronic devices for an average of 30 hours per week. Prien has set her sights on minimising screentime from an earlier age. She has spoken out against the amount of time pre-schoolers spend in front of screens, and voiced favour for banning the use of mobile phones in primary schools altogether. State ministers of education are already looking at the issue. Prien intends to help them in their deliberations by providing better access to scientific studies, evidence, and analysis. READ ALSO: What are the rules in Germany on students having phones at school? Advertisement Integrating youth services and specialised teacher training However, halving the school dropout rate in the next ten years won't be possible simply through testing pre-schoolers, offering all-day schooling, and banning mobile phones. Prien also wants to invest in more support for children who arrive late in Germany's school system – and in additional training for teachers on how to cope with 'difficult and demanding groups of pupils.' She intends to take advantage of the expanded remit of her ministry to 'link youth welfare services more closely with schools,' in order to prevent pupils from falling through the cracks. READ ALSO: What having kids at a German kindergarten teaches you about the local culture
Wales Online
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Wales Online
'It's time to bring home economics lessons back in schools'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Darren Millar MS When I became leader of my party, I promised to present a credible plan to the people of Wales ahead of the election in 2026. It is clear that after 26 years of Labour, Wales is broken. We have seen waiting lists in our NHS hit record levels, with the equivalent of 1-in-4 people languishing, often in pain, waiting for treatment. Despite England's population being eighteen times that of Wales', we have over 15,000 waiting two years or more, yet they have less than 200. That simply isn't good enough. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here Educational standards continue to fall, with PISA results remaining the lowest in the UK and experiencing the steepest decline with a fifth of pupils leaving primary school are functionally illiterate. And Labour's economic record is no better. We have the lowest employment levels in the UK here in Wales, economic inactivity remains stubbornly high, Welsh workers experience some of the smallest pay packets and unemployment has been the highest in the UK for eight months in a row. Wales deserves so much better than Labour's shameful record of failure. So I have made it my mission, to lead a team to deliver a plan to fix Wales. Last weekend marked our annual conference. It took place in beautiful and sunny Llangollen in North Wales. The mood was electric, as members enjoyed keynote addresses from political heavyweights from across the UK, including Kemi Badenoch, as well as a plethora of speakers from outside of politics, such as Cathy Larkman of the Women's Rights Network; NHS campaigner, David Jones; and celebrity farmer and campaigner, Gareth Wyn Jones. Optimism was in the air as members of my shadow cabinet team presented a vast array of policy proposals with one central aim in mind, to fix Wales. Our shadow cabinet secretary for health, James Evans detailed our plans to fix the Welsh NHS. We would declare, not a climate emergency, not a nature emergency or a biodiversity emergency, but a health emergency so that we can focus resources and the entire apparatus of Government on driving down excessive waiting times for tests and treatment, much like was the case during the Covid-19 pandemic. A Welsh Conservative government would also guarantee that no patient will have to wait over twelve months for treatment or longer than seven days to access a GP appointment. We have also pledged to expand patient choice and let you decide if you'd like to seek treatment further afield to achieve a shorter wait time, removing restrictions to cross-community, cross-border and cross-sector capacity sharing. And we would commission a public inquiry into failings at the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, and establish an NHS Leadership Register to prevent sacked NHS managers from being rehired in other parts of the health service. Natasha Asghar, our shadow education secretary, announced plans for a new discipline drive in our schools. With immediate expulsions for pupils who bring weapons such as knives into school, a zero tolerance approach to violence, a crackdown on poor behaviour and a ban on mobile phones to improve learners' concentration. The Welsh Conservatives would also reintroduce home economics in our schools, to teach all of our young people essential life skills such as how to cook a nutritious meal, and manage a household budget. We would also back businesses to create new jobs here in Wales. It is unacceptable that firms here face the highest business rates in Britain. That's why we would cut business rates in our town centres, eliminating them altogether for small businesses, and axe Labour's toxic tourism tax. Putting more money into the pockets of hardworking people is also a key priority. That's why a Welsh Conservative government would cut the basic rate of tax by 1p, saving the average hardworking family £450 per year, paid for by bearing down on waste and inefficiency in the Welsh Government. Wasting taxpayers' money on non-devolved areas like 'justice delivery', 'international relations' and 'constitutional commissions' will come to an end. Under the Welsh Conservatives, the Unions wouldn't be getting handouts, we wouldn't be spending millions on Senedd expansion and we wouldn't be wasting millions heating, lighting and leasing lavish near-empty Welsh Government buildings across Wales. We will also protect our pensioners who have been let down by Keir Starmer, by introducing a Welsh Winter Fuel Allowance, paid for by using some of the savings gleaned from cutting Labour's ballooning bureaucracy budgets to levels seen just two years ago, because in that time it has risen by a third, an astonishing £114 million. On transport, Sam Rowlands was clear that we will also scrap the default 20mph speed limit, returning it to 30mph. We will also invest in our infrastructure, unfreezing all road projects and deliver an M4 relief road. There will be no more spending on cycle paths until we fix Wales' roads. I reiterated our calls for a full public inquiry into sexual exploitation by grooming gangs in Wales, because we know there is evidence of gang activity in Wales but the full extent of this is unknown. Only the Welsh Conservatives can be trusted to deliver this policy agenda. Unlike Plaid Cymru and the Liberal Democrats, we have not allowed Labour budgets and legislation to pass here in the Senedd, enabling Mark Drakeford's plans for more politicians and 20mph speed limits, Vaughan Gething's behaviour in bringing the office of First Minister into disrepute and Eluned Morgan's woeful mismanagement of the health service. And unlike Reform, we don't view spending £120 million on 36 more politicians as an 'exciting opportunity', we saw it as a colossal waste of your money and voted against it at every opportunity. The Welsh Conservatives will go even further. We would reverse Senedd expansion, saving the taxpayer tens of millions each and every year. We would also say no to the devolution of more powers, in contrast with Reform, which has joined Labour and Plaid Cymru by flirting with the devolution of justice. The Welsh Conservatives are the only credible alternative to a clapped-out Welsh Labour Government, with a clear plan to fix Wales.
Wales Online
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Wales Online
'Too many generations have missed out on speaking Welsh... why wait until 2050?'
'Too many generations have missed out on speaking Welsh... why wait until 2050?' A new bill will put a legal duty on schools to ensure all pupils become competent Welsh speakers The bill will legally enshrine the goal of achieving at least a million Welsh speakers (Image: STOKE SENTINEL ) A bill aimed at enhancing Welsh language learning standards has been unanimously approved by the Senedd. The Welsh language education bill, which seeks to ensure all students become proficient in Welsh by the end of compulsory schooling, received unanimous support from Senedd members - but not from Wales Online readers. Welsh language minister Mark Drakeford stated that the bill would provide pupils with opportunities, open doors to employment, grant access to the rich culture of the language, and enable people to use Welsh in their daily lives. He described it as a new chapter in the history of Welsh education. The legislation will establish three categories of schools – primarily Welsh; dual language; and primarily English, partly Welsh – each with its own minimum Welsh education targets. Furthermore, the bill will legally enshrine the goal of achieving at least a million Welsh speakers and set up the National Welsh Language Learning Institute. The Cymraeg 2050 strategy, spearheaded by ministers, aims to double the daily usage of the language by 2050. Mr Drakeford added: "The institute will be the focal point for Welsh learning and it will help in the process of planning to develop the education workforce. Article continues below "It will promote innovation and continuous improvement and will help to raise standards in learning Welsh." Commenter JWV thinks: 'Efforts should be concentrated on raising standards in the important 'core subjects' that pupils need to progress in life.' VetchClock points out: 'Welsh medium and properly bilingual schools out perform similar English Schools. Also, only 5% of English schools take part in the PISA tests compared with 50% of schools in Wales. Statistically (which is how their scores are judged) the comparisons are meaningless. In England pupils have to learn another language which is not indigenous. What is wrong with speaking your own language in your own country? Starmer, Badenoch and Farage insist on it in England.' Goatman agrees: 'Countries which have multi-language skills have higher overall education. Most of Europe speaks English now as a second language so having two languages isn't exactly a burden. Those who think it affects education obviously have no idea about the facts and are anti Welsh English settlers or from parts of Wales like Cardiff and Newport that have completely been multicultural for so long the language has almost disappeared. Most visitors to this country on weekend breaks or holidays are fascinated by our ancient proud language and chuffed we have managed to cling on to it. Wales is a beautiful country with a rich heritage and unique culture so protecting that is an excellent thing to do.' Hughpugh66 retorts: 'Welsh is as far away from International bilingualism as a language could possibly be. The norm is English and French, English and Mandarin, or another well used useful European language.' Inreality states: 'The UK government should step in and represent the people who have no interest in speaking Welsh. This is the work of a dictatorship, the Welsh public should have a say on it or have an option to opt out.' JoseJones says: 'Good luck with it. I don't speak Welsh but I support building back our indigenous language that has been suppressed by the language of business.' Daviesjones agrees: 'Why was this Bill not proposed and passed when the Senedd was first set up? Too many generations have missed out on speaking Welsh since the English set their laws on preventing the language being spoken in schools. Also the migration of Welsh speakers from Welsh speaking areas after WW2 didn't help as the Welsh language was no longer the language spoken at home. "Many people who move to Wales want to learn the language and do so, people from other countries have learned it. Sadly many Welsh people think it is pointless and are apathetic. Why wait until 2050? It should start straight away, it's a well known fact that if someone is bilingual, it is easier for them to learn another language. Welsh is also a phonetic language unlike English so will help many pupils. Welsh is older than English and it should be for ALL not just the few.' Article continues below Hughpugh66 replies: "Disgraceful, there's no freedom of choice here. Give the resources for those wishing to learn Welsh to do so, but the Senedd should be concentrating on improving Welsh children's maths and science skills.' How do you feel about the new Welsh language bill? Will it preserve Welsh as an indigenous language? Have your say in our comments section.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Power off: Where do EU member states stand on school smartphone bans?
Children glued to their smartphone screens at school, at home and anywhere in between has become the new normal, prompting concerns over negative psychological effects. These range from fears that pupils are being distracted at school, to misinformation through fake news, social media addiction and online harassment and bullying. EU youth and education ministers debated a range of measures this week, from phone bans in schools, to tougher age checks for online activities, restrictions on the underage use of social media and an EU-wide plan to fight cyberbullying. Italy is driving the push for stronger EU-wide restrictions on mobile phone use, with Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara presenting an initiative to ban the use of smartphones in class for under-14s across Europe at this week's talks in Brussels. According to diplomatic sources, 11 EU members – among them France, Sweden, Austria, Cyprus and Greece – showed their support, as did the rotating Polish presidency of the European Union. "If we truly love our children, we must guarantee them a break from cellphones at school," said Valditara. He called for a coordinated EU approach regarding "access to social networks to combat phenomena such as cyberbullying, child pornography, acts of self-harm and gender-based violence." EU Youth Commissioner Glenn Micallef on Monday launched his vision for an action plan against cyberbullying. "Social media has its benefits, but it can also impact our mental health and social cohesion," he said on X. "I want people, especially children and other vulnerable groups, to feel safe online, free from harm and harassment." Digital Distraction Valditara cited scientific studies showing that the abuse of mobile devices during childhood and pre-adolescence "negatively affects cognitive development, causing loss of concentration and memory, reduction of language skills and critical thinking." He added: "In addition to the decline in school performance, excessive use of smartphones at an early age is recognized as one of the main causes of social isolation." According to data from the OECD's 2022 PISA study - a comparative international study of core educational skills - some 65% of pupils said they were distracted by digital devices during maths lessons in particular. The study also raised concerns about addictiveness: "On average across OECD countries, 45% of pupils reported feeling nervous or anxious if their phones were not near them." The findings, released in 2023 and 2024, revealed overall that moderate use of digital devices at school and for learning led to better performance, while pupils reported a "greater sense of belonging" at school. However, if pupils spent more than an hour a day using their devices for leisure they tended to have lower maths scores. PISA assesses 15-year olds skills in maths, science and reading. School rules Some EU member states have already introduced phone bans in schools, while others are considering the step. But the range of restrictions varies within individual states, regions, or even schools. They include total bans on the one hand, meaning phones are not even allowed on school premises, or else partial bans restricting use to certain periods of the day, such as breaks between classes. Bulgarian pupils have been banned from using smartphones in class since 2016. The government is now pushing for a total smartphone ban in schools, except for strictly educational purposes, medical necessities or in emergencies. Education Minister Krasimir Valchev said he expected a parliamentary vote in June. In Spain, restrictions on the use of mobile phones at school have been in place since the academic year 2020-21, but vary from region to region. The country's state school council recommends that secondary school pupils switch off their mobile phones from the time they enter the school to the time they leave, while advocating not bringing them at all into pre-school or primary schools, unless there are "very specific" individual reasons. Most autonomous communities agree to a total ban of the use of mobile devices in infant and primary education. France banned primary and secondary school pupils from using phones on school premises back in 2018. Italy's education ministry said that as of September, the use of smartphones in the classroom has been banned for all pupils. The Danish government is also planning to ban the use of mobile phones in schools and after-school clubs. Austria is the latest country to introduce restrictions. Since May 1, Austria has had a mobile phone ban both in class and during recess. "We're seeing more and more member states adopting the same rule," Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr said this week. Turning schools into mobile phone-free zones led to better performance and fewer conflicts, he added. In Sweden, the government is proposing a total ban on the use of mobile phones in comprehensive schools (up to age 16). The phones would be collected in the morning and not released again until the pupils leave school. Teachers and headmasters would also have the right to confiscate phones, tablets such as iPads, smart watches and other equipment from the pupils. "It is really important that we reduce the amount of phones and screen time in school," school minister Lotta Edholm told a press conference in March. A Swedish government agency last year recommended a maximum 2-3 hours screen time per day for 13-18 year olds, 1-2 hours for 6-12 years olds and no more than one hour per day for kids under 6. In Germany, education is within the purview of the federal states. Some of them call for restrictions on the private use of mobile phones at school and plan to regulate it. Until then, many schools have come up with their own rules. In Belgium there is no detailed plan to address the use of smartphones and social media among young people. Policy largely focuses on media literacy education in schools, through workshops or TV programmes. Earlier this month, a group of Belgian experts called on the government to provide clearer and stricter policies on smartphone use among children and adolescents, advocating a ban on social media use until the age of 16. Federal minister Vanessa Matz, responsible for digitization, did not rule out a national ban, but said it was far better to pursue the issue within a European framework. Social media in the crosshairs Another approach taken by some countries is to restrict young people's access to social media. This needn't mean total bans, as age checks and privacy laws are another way to protect children online. EU laws such als the Digital Services Act require platforms to check the age of users, while the GDPR data protection rules are meant to protect data privacy. However, clicking on "I am over 18" is easy – there are currently no reliable systems that can verify the age of users that don't fall foul of privacy laws. French President Emmanuel Macron said earlier this week he wants to require teenagers to verify their age before registering on social media. Last year already, he advocated a ban on social media for children under 15 and a cellphone ban for children under 11. He stressed again that this was a European responsibility too: "We should also engage in a parallel European fight, but I think it must be done." Minister Delegate for Digital Affairs Clara Chappaz told La Tribune Dimanche newspaper that France was giving itself three months to "mobilize its European partners" on EU-wide measures requiring social media to verify the age of teenagers, failing which Paris would take unilateral action. "Social media, under the age of 15, is a no-no," Chappaz said. But in reality, mobile phones have become an ubiquitous part of life, no matter the age. They are tools for communication between family and friends, and for many parents a smart device is also a means of knowing their children's whereabouts. Some specialists, like German child protection expert Benjamin Thull, even consider bans counterproductive. "The smartphone is the medium through which everything happens. I think banning it from schools is a mistake," Thull says, noting that some children and young people don't learn the right media skills at home. Therefore, he argues, the topic should play an important role at school. The content of this article is based on reporting by AFP, ANSA, APA, ATA, Belga, BTA, CTK, dpa, EFE and TT correspondents as part of the European Newsroom (enr) project.
