Highers cancelled: Scotland's young people can't afford another lost year of education – Daniel Johnson MSP

The decision to cancel the Higher exams was not an easy one but probably the right one.

A summer school for all pupils could help make up for the learning they have missed (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

More importantly, it wouldn’t be fair to pupils, given the disruption they’ve experienced this past year. Pupils across Scotland have had massively differing amounts of time at school since August. Having them sit the same exam after very different numbers of hours in a classroom would not have been a level playing field.

But there are two issues with this decision. First, it has come very late. When the exams were cancelled back in May, it was clear the same could happen again this academic year.

A back-up plan should have been produced, so everyone was clear. Instead, we have had months of delay rather than an announcement that a well understood ‘plan B’ was being used.

But perhaps more importantly is how the gap in learning will be filled. Grades are important but the knowledge and skills they certify are really what is important. We need a way of levelling young people up for the learning missed, not just give them a grade we think they might have got.

It’s time to be creative. Some parties have suggested tutoring. Another idea might be to have fully resourced summer school for all pupils. Could universities and colleges work with schools in the summer term to start them early and work out what they’ve missed?

School isn’t just about grades. Whatever the solution, young people can’t afford a lost year of learning.

Daniel Johnson is the Scottish Labour MSP for Edinburgh Southern

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