School curriculum delay ruled out by education minister

The education secretary said the new system would be introduced in August

Teachers may consider industrial action after the Scottish education secretary ruled out delaying the introduction of a new curriculum in secondary schools.

The EIS union said its members had reported that secondaries were not ready to change to exam courses linked to the Curriculum for Excellence.

It wanted a delay on the introduction of the new system but the minister's advisory board rejected that call.

Education Secretary Mike Russell said he would continue talks with the EIS.

The Scottish government said the union was the only representative on the board which favoured a one-year delay.

Before the recommendation was made, the EIS had warned that if the plans went ahead it may call on members to work-to-rule, a move which could force a delay.

I will be asking the EIS to enter into constructive and detailed dialogue with me and my officials as soon as possible so that we can address their continuing concerns Mike Russell

The new system, which is already in place in primary schools and has been billed as the biggest shake-up in Scottish education for a generation, is intended to broaden pupils' learning.

It is designed to give teachers more freedom and make lessons less prescriptive but critics say it is not fully developed and that guidance about its implementation in secondary schools is sketchy.

However, the advisory board recommended that the new system be introduced in the new school year, as originally planned.

A survey by the Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association (SSTA) had suggested that 89% of teachers wanted more resources before they began teaching the curriculum in August and 78% said clarification of course content was essential.

'Great benefit'

Mr Russell said: "I have immediately accepted the management board's unanimous advice that there be no delay in present plans for the roll out in secondary schools this August.

"Curriculum for Excellence is making a real difference in our classrooms at primary level and it will be of great benefit in secondary schools. There should be no further doubt about what is going to happen.

"I also concur that we need to continue to build teachers' confidence in the process of change.

"I will be asking the EIS to enter into constructive and detailed dialogue with me and my officials as soon as possible so that we can address their continuing concerns."

Mr Russell has said he hoped 10 measures announced last month, including tailored support for schools, would iron out the issues highlighted by the union.