A two-tier education system will always produce inequality

This particular subject really centres on the two-tier education system that prevails regardless in Scotland and has done for far too long. It has been of great interest and concern to me for the best part of 40 years and I can’t for the life of me fathom why this kind of divided educational system has been allowed to continue in a small country like Scotland with more than five million inhabitants and when it is absolutely clear that privately educated kids from wealthy backgrounds have been gaining unfair benefits and opportunities over less privileged children.

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This whole set up is inherently wrong and the latest SQA fiasco has merely exposed the same issue again. I have always maintained there should be EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL OUR KIDS progressing through our Scottish education system, and I scoff at the “freedom of choice” argument uttered by wealthy protagonists of such a divisive set-up. These people are well aware of why they are privately educating their kids – they know all about the historical benefits that will come the way of their kith and kin.

Note there is no “freedom of choice” for well over 90% of Scottish kids and their families and that is a glaring fact. Remember that we are living in 21st century Scotland at a time when this kind of two-tier education system should really be flushed down the toilet and the revolution that Hassan describes should be an all-embracing flagship education system that would eventually overwhelm the unacceptable two-tier one that I have been observing through the decades of my life with great dismay.

Bernie Japs
Edinburgh

I FOUND Melvyn Gibson’s letter (Estimated grades should all be granted, August 11), to be very interesting as it provides a simple solution to very difficult problem. But I disagree with his comment: “Students who are not up to it will not get through the first year at university/college”.

Lets us no forget that the students are our young people and not just commodities to be used and discarded when no longer required. I would suggest that the university/college admissions tutors have a responsibility to ensure that, as far as it is possible, those to whom they offer places have the ability to complete the course.

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The responsibility then rests with the universities/colleges to accept that their new entrants are, through no fault of their of own, less well prepared than in the past and make provision to address the problem.

I would think this will be particularly important in subjects that follow on from the school curriculum, eg chemistry, mathematics and physics. No doubt with this will require changes in approach and redeployment of staff and resources – not a problem, a challenge!

What some experts are predicting is that our universities will find that there will be a large drop in the numbers of overseas students coming to study in Scotland, and this could raise the spectre of staff redundancies.

I have confidence that our universities/colleges will provide well-thought-out solutions and Scotland will benefit from the changes.

As a society we have during the pandemic taken great care of our elderly – now it is time to show the same level of commitment and compassion towards our young people.

Let us never forget that our young people are Scotland’s greatest asset.

Thomas L Inglis
Fintry

THIS is an exceptional year, John Swinney has backed the teachers and protesting pupils against the established examination organisation and it’s now up to those who gain entry to higher education as a result of his upgrades to prove that he has backed the winner.

John Jamieson
Edinburgh

THE country, and especially young people, awaitedyesterday’s statement to the Scottish Parliament by Deputy First Minister and Education Minister John Swinney and I trust they were not disappointed.

Mr Swinney’s statement had two words which came to the fore, humbleness and honesty. Yet in reply to the statement, the Conservative education spokesperson Jamie Green MSP had the audacity to suggest that the statement was the longest resignation statement without a resignation.

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The main opposition in Scotland, the Conservatives, offered no solutions, no acknowledgement of the Scottish Government statement, only criticism.

In yesterday’s statement John Swinney MSP clearly demonstrated the Scottish Government are fully in touch with public concerns and are getting on with the day job.

Catriona C Clark
Falkirk

I’M getting a bit fed up with calls for resignation every time a politician makes a mistake. There is a vast difference between gross incompetence, screw-ups due to blatant negligence, and what is normally referred to as “an honest mistake” in the course of trying your best under difficult circumstances.

If everyone reading this who has EVER been in employment, resigned after making an error, the jobs market would be pretty chaotic. The unloved current Tory cabinet would be signing on right now if there was any logic involved.

I have met John Swinney (briefly) and he struck me as a genuine, sincere person who would invariably try his best at whatever job he had, and had a much greater “presence” or “charisma” than that which appears on TV.

Barry Stewart
Blantyre