I was extremely disturbed to read the article last week by Judith Moore (“When certificates fail to pass the test”). The actions of the Scottish Qualifications Authority surely should be challenged, and I certainly agree with her that they risk perpetrating an injustice to employers as well as to candidates.
Employers, it appears, are no longer to be told the real circumstances in which young people with special needs have sat exams, whether they have had recourse to a scribe, calculator, enlarged print, etc. I understand the requirements from disability legislation that there should be no discrimination shown to exam candidates, which has led the SQA to the interpretation that it would be breaking the law if exam scripts or certificates revealed the different conditions under which the exam was sat.
As they say in medical circles, perhaps they should seek a second opinion.
It should surely be possible to have, as previously, endorsements on a certificate providing parent and pupil agree. If they have a right to refuse such a thing, that is another matter. But it certainly does no one any favours, and particularly not employers, if they are given a false impression of the abilities of people who are seeking work.
Rosemary Collins
Tantallon Road
Glasgow
