Exams Chaos! Stay United Protect Young Lives

BRIGHTEVERYDAY Exams Chaos Stay United Protect Young Lives!

Looking out on a rippling sea, rolling hills and mountains resting down to the shores, the beauty of Scotland is unbounded and grand. Lifted, and re-assured by the plethora of visions we know so well, inspired by glorious skies and permanence, yet, changing, shifting sands and seasons. There is comfort in the ancient beauty of shape, proportion, and sound, incandescent hues and the oh so familiar colours, engraving and painting, our landscapes. It has inhabited and shaped these shores for millions of years; as travellers and custodians, but only for a short while, we have a responsibility to respect and marvel at this natural world, and play our part in sustaining and nurturing it. A world in equilibrium bestows great gifts and knowing, it thus demands our utmost attention and understanding of its symbiotic nature, sagacious application of knowledge, learning and wise counsel. Greatness has preceded us.

Fast forward to 2020 and what have we aspired to? Disrespect of our countryside by the growing few, litter strewn across sublime landscapes, groups relentlessly pursuing their trite tribal lifestyles of selfish indulgence, clearly having missed the classes on Community, Citizenship, Logic, Art, and History! They treat it as a playground for their trivial pursuits. We have created divisions and rancour, whilst looking into the political abyss, we have ignored as a nation, the very things once lauded, in altruism, education, industry, and philanthropy. A nation of disparate goals and focus, obscuring the very tenets of an evolved and caring society; those who seek to divide by their dystopian, myopic visions of pseudo Nationalism, and all the time facilitating a disturbing energy and drive to mediocrity.

Education is the cornerstone of our great nation and, the embodiment of tolerance and respect. It was renowned and revered worldwide and we should be circumspect in its current demise. At a most defining moment in history in modern times, we have just witnessed an utterly misguided act of Government and governance, in meddling in the institution of Education. How dare a Minister and his advisors create chaos in schools and exam results and what gives him the right to interfere so insultingly and insensitively at a time so important to children and families! To downgrade critical exam results by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) is incomprehensible, and although some will be modified and corrected, the damage to young people and their aspirations is immeasurable, particularly to the 15.2% of pupils living in the most deprived areas. Set that against the 6.9% of pupils from more affluent areas and backgrounds! An apology is too late and the whole episode piles shame on an out of touch divisive, selective, and impoverished Government. This same downgrading formula is being adopted in England, so beware!

A vote of no confidence understates the magnitude and incredulity of the situation. Rather, it shows a complete lack of understanding and propriety, professional ineptitude and political ignorance, but most importantly it once again completely misreads the basic tenets of family, community and acknowledged standards of behaviour and governance expected of political party in power. It also shows a Government with no appetite for fairness and diligence, instead it shows favour to Private Schools and failures in the flawed model of downgrading and testing against previous results. Perhaps if their Nationalist obsessions were set aside for once, and they take time to govern, not divide, they may elevate their standing in their remaining tenure. We shall surely soon identify the ethos and true intentions of the incumbent Scottish National Party (SNP) and seek transparency to allow the electorate to decide their fate and test their ability to govern astutely; indeed, question their political future as a party of tolerance and assiduous skills, pre-requisites of a modern economy, Scotland!

One is therefore suspicious of the politics and motives behind such political aberrations. Did the Scottish Government apply such zealous scrutiny to those overseas students seeking places at Scottish Universities, or were their financial contributions required to swell the budgets of cap-in-hand institutions? Are Scottish students, especially those from poorer or disadvantaged communities not respected and valued, or they just another political pawn so dismissively and disrespectfully cast aside? Much debate is long overdue on the relationships of schools and schooling, further education, the fit, and the thirst for fees from overseas students, for already wealthy Universities and educational institutes, seeking further autonomy. A profound study of the role of Education in the community, in educating the young people of Scotland as a priority, is belated. Fairness and equality of opportunity are the tenets of an evolved and historic institution, as is fitness for purpose.

Is it the political intention to oversubscribe overseas students to fill the coffers and finance other Vanity Projects of a spendthrift party? A bridge too far, a Fourth Forth bridge? A tram extension to Kirkaldy, or rather, Ely and North Berwick! A more serious contribution to the wealth and health of the nation would be to spend the remaining time in office understanding the mood of the nation, treating our valued institutions with respect and affording them the dignity and respect of your office. There has been nothing urbane or benign in the adversarial politics of the Nationalist government, one whose raison d’etre denies and obscures provenance and collective responsibility and obviates national sentiment and pride.

We have all suffered and fought a good fight, showed resilience and unity as a people, so please do not confuse your charge to govern judiciously with vigilance, by making inept and insulting political incursions and gestures; you may have underestimated what public tolerance stretches to and how your divisive policies and politics betrays a nation seeking inclusiveness and harmony. It seeks through consensus, our part in a United Kingdom, a small group of countries historically and spiritually linked, warts and all, but with autonomy and identity making self-determination and governance an integral part of the community, Scotland!

As an extension of our considerations, the predicament of prisoners and the role of prisons in Scotland could be ameliorated by the introduction of extensive education and well-being programmes from the very start of sentence. Prisons would become another function of Education and the ethos and determination of Crime and Punishment would elevate to a social and inclusive function of State. It makes absolute sense to reinforce the values of community and care, to forge new connections and re-state the obligations we have to each other. A malevolent atmosphere of incarceration has no relevance in the modern world. With judicious scrutiny and compassion, rehabilitation and education could set a new code for a connected, compassionate world. Scotland could lead the way in such repeals and reforms.