Howie squeezed by election
The government forced the Howie committee on reforming the Highers to cut short its deliberations and publish its report before the general election, two leading members of the committee alleged. David Alexander, Strathclyde depute director of education, said the controversy about dividing pupils into academic and vocational streams might have been avoided if the committee had been allowed to finish its “own fierce debates”.
SEB’s historic compromise
History teachers who complained bitterly about the unfairness of this year’s Standard grade examination, especially at Credit level, are to win changes to both the course and examination. Teachers’ concern about the heavy demands on pupils and narrowness of exam questions is masking a more general call for complete revision of the Standard grade course, which is said to be turning pupils away from subject and placing undue stress on teachers.
No `holy grail’ for under-5s
A survey of 68 primary schools in Argyll and Bute suggests nursery schooling may not be the “holy grail” its advocates believe. Most of the 50 per cent of under-5s in Argyll who do not receive any form of pre- school experience do not appear to labour under any disadvantage in P1, says the study by local psychologists Donald Devine, Alastair Hall and Anne Skillen.
Film giants face grilling
When Glasgow had its year of culture it also was host to the European Film Awards, and, as a result of a conversation between the Scottish Film Council and Sir Richard Attenborough, a project emerged called the Strathclyde Tapes. “Dickie” is in Glasgow on his way to be interviewed by pupils from Stewarton, Prestwick, Ravenscraig and Belmont academies.
Kurds try to learn amid ruins
The education system in Iraqi Kurdistan is struggling to survive the aftermath of the Gulf War and the setting up of a regional administration ostracised by the Baghdad government. When thousands fled to the mountains many left behind a fairly sophisticated way of life, but returned under the “safe havens” policy to devastated areas.
