SNP accused of being 'in denial' on Scotland's education record over PISA results
Mairi McAllan gave a robust defence of Scotland’s showing in the PISA results but opposition parties are less than convinced
Ministers are “in denial” over Scotland’s education record, critics have said, as Mairi McAllan defended the country’s PISA results.
The international benchmarking exercise showed scores in reading and maths have fallen, setting pupils north of the border lagging behind their English peers.
The education secretary, however, said curricular areas such as “moral education and creative expression” make they system “good” for young people.
Ms McAllan said she intends to bring reform to the system, adding: “I will drive those reforms forward, clarifying the role of knowledge in our curriculum, clarifying the progression that a young person ought to make through the curriculum.
“I will not do it to the exclusion of everything else that makes our education system good for our young people, including those other curricular areas like problem solving, moral education, creative expression.”
The Scottish Government has faced intense criticism since the publication of the assessment results on Tuesday.
Scores showed an increase in science but a decline in maths and reading, albeit not significantly below the international average.
Other factors are studied as part of the PISA - Programme for International Student Assessment - rankings.
These include a breakdown of results by socioeconomic groupings and nationality.
READ MORE:PISA figures have a clear message for Scottish education: copy England – Professor Lindsay Paterson
Results for Scotland showed second generation immigrants performing significantly above their native Scottish peers.
The poverty-related attainment gap also narrowed but largely because middle class pupils are now faring worse than in previous years.
Ms McAllan told BBC Radio Scotland: “I’m clear-eyed about these results, so I'm clear-eyed about where they indicate success in our education system, bringing a stabilisation in Scotland's education performance since 2022, putting Scotland significantly above average in four of the five domains that are measured, and demonstrating a weakening between socio-economic disadvantage and attainment.
“However, I'm also clear-eyed about the way that they indicate that change is required and that reform is underway, and I intend to take it forward.”
A new curriculum design is due to be announced towards the end of this year with implementation beginning in 2028.
Scottish Conservative education spokeswoman Meghan Gallacher MSP said the minister’s performance was an “extraordinary attempt to defend the indefensible”.
“After Scotland’s pupils recorded their worst-ever PISA results in maths and reading, she seriously suggested England should be learning from the SNP while refusing to even say Scotland’s results will improve next time,” Ms Gallacher added.
“Parents, teachers and pupils deserve better than an Education Secretary who cannot defend her record and has no confidence in her own plans.”
Scottish Labour Education spokeswoman Katherine Sangster said Ms McAllan and the SNP are “in denial”.
“The education secretary’s dismissive response to these shameful figures is an insult to Scotland’s pupils, parents and teachers,” she added.
“A generation of young people has been badly let down by this out-of-touch and complacent SNP government and more of the same is not good enough.
“The SNP must stop making excuses and give a clear commitment to improve our education system and give young people the education they deserve.”
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