Chamber and committees

The teacher employment working group will meet a number of times over the summer and report to ministers thereafter.

No specific date has been set but the group will work over the summer and report to ministers thereafter.

In order to allow a free and frank exchange of views the minutes of the teacher employment working group will not be published.

The teacher employment working group will report to ministers who are accountable to Parliament.

The remit of the teacher employment working group is:

To assess whether the current teacher workforce planning process is fit for purpose taking account of relevant policy developments.

To examine whether improvements can be made to maximise the compatibility between student numbers and employment opportunities for teachers.

To consider the impact of the teacher Induction scheme on employment opportunities for teachers.

To make recommendations for improvements in the process.

Ministers expect the work of the group to primarily influence future teacher workforce planning exercises and the Induction scheme but if any lessons are identified for this year they will be taken into account.

It is the responsibility of the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) to develop, set and assess qualifications in Scotland. SQA currently offers unit qualifications in Panjabi. Although there has been no uptake for these over the last few years, SQA will continue to make this provision available. SQA have also undertaken an environmental scanning and scoping exercise to investigate the demand for further development of qualifications in Panjabi. On the basis of the results of this work, SQA do not intend to develop additional qualifications in Panjabi at present.

It is the responsibility of the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) to develop, set and assess qualifications in Scotland. SQA currently offers unit qualifications in Panjabi. Although there has been no uptake for these over the last few years, SQA will continue to make this provision available. They have also undertaken an environmental scanning and scoping exercise to investigate the demand for further development of qualifications in Panjabi. On the basis of the results of this work, SQA do not intend to develop additional qualifications in Panjabi at present.

A review of the national Centres of Excellence programme was undertaken by the previous Scottish Executive in 2005. The review concluded three of the centres were not in fact acting as national centres. Their funding was therefore phased out, although it is open to the local authorities in question to continue to fund those elements of the centres work which are a local priority.

In July 2007 the Scottish Government awarded Sikh Sanjog £4,500 to continue developing its youth participation project for young Sikhs. This funding allowed the organisation to involve Sikh girls in youth participation activities.

In 2007-08 the Scottish Government granted the Edinburgh Interfaith Association £12,500 to develop two youth “identity projects” one for Muslim young men and the other aimed at Sikh young men. The funding allowed the project to develop 15 week workshops which enabled participants to develop a sense of “self” and belonging. The project also focused on building relations between participants and elders within their community.

I am aware that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has recently conducted a review of health visiting services as part of a wider policy of integrating services for children and young people in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area. It is a matter for the board to determine the way forward in the light of that review and to engage with all interested parties in its implementation.