Hyslop reads out book week plans
- The programme for Scotland’s first national celebration of reading was announced this week by culture secretary Fiona Hyslop (left). Book Week Scotland will take place between November 26 and December 2. Throughout the week people of all ages will be encouraged to take part in a wide programme of activities, including “the reading hour” when thousands of Scots are expected to pick up a book at 11am on 30 November, St Andrew’s Day. www.bookweek scotland.com
Gove’s career was predicted
- Westminster education secretary Michael Gove was earmarked as a future leader of the Conservative party while at school in Aberdeen, a former teacher has revealed. Mr Gove’s French teacher, Danny Montgomery, revealed the prediction by Robert Gordon’s College colleagues when he responded to an open letter written by Mr Gove, in which the minister apologised for indulging in “pathetic showing-off” in Mr Montgomery’s class. Mr Gove wrote the letter to publicise this year’s Pearson Teaching Awards.
Getting active just got easier
- A new fund to build or upgrade local sport and recreation facilities to get Scots more active around the Commonwealth Games is open for applications; new projects within school estates will be considered. The pound;10 million Legacy 2014 Active Places Fund will give communities across Scotland more and better places to be active. Grants from pound;10K to pound;100K are available. See www.sportscotland.org.ukActiveplaces guidance
Lecturers strike over pay
- University lecturers began a programme of industrial action this week over pay. Lecturers in the Educational Institute of Scotland - University Lecturers’ Association held a one-day strike on Tuesday. EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan said: “Lecturers are drawing a line in the sand and telling their employers they will not accept yet another year of diminishing pay and declining living standards.”
Care leavers in education battle
- The Scottish government must redouble its efforts to increase the number of care leavers in higher education, say the National Union of Students and children’s charity Buttle UK. Their call coincides with National Care Leavers’ Week and the lodging of a motion by Green Party MSP Alison Johnstone with the Scottish Parliament on the subject of fairer access to higher education for those coming from a care background.
