Chamber and committees

The importance of sustainable development is included within the "social and environmental responsibility" component in the revised 5-14 guidelines on Environmental Studies. LT Scotland is currently preparing a mapping document setting out opportunities for promoting sustainable development at all levels of the curriculum, which will be published early in the New Year.

Following the publication of the Deloitte and Touche report, I also announced the formation of a ministerial review group, with stakeholder membership, to monitor progress against the recommendations of the report. Because of its importance, the group will have a ministerial rather than an official chair, the Deputy Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs, Nicol Stephen. I can also announce that the group will consist of representatives from the following stakeholders:

• Parents;

• Teachers, including classroom and principal teachers;

• Headteachers;

• Secondary school students;
• Education authorities;

• Further education colleges, including students and the Association of Scottish Colleges;

• Employers.

The group will be supported by officials of the SQA and the Scottish Executive Education Department. A major focus of the Deloitte and Touche report was the need for improved communication with centres and I particularly want the Ministerial Review Group to monitor progress against recommendations on this important issue.

I am meeting the interim Chair, John Ward, and the interim Chief Executive, Bill Morton, of the SQA later today. I do not underestimate the scale of the challenges facing the new Chair and Chief Executive. The SQA need to concentrate on priority areas and I am pleased to announce today progress on three key issues: marker fees; internal assessment; and the design of the Scottish Qualifications Certificate.

One of the key recommendations of the Deloitte and Touche report was to "re-evaluate the basis of remuneration of markers in the light of the experience of Diet 2000". Markers play a pivotal role within the exam process and I want to ensure that this year's difficulties do not have a negative effect on the recruitment of markers this year. Many teachers agree to marking as part of their own professional development and I want to encourage as many as possible to become involved. In response to these issues, the SQA has initiated a review of remuneration of markers which will report by Christmas. The Scottish Executive is actively participating in this project. I have made clear to the SQA that an increase in marker fees is desirable and that the Scottish Executive is prepared to assist financially to achieve this.

The Deloitte and Touche report also contained recommendations on returns of internal assessment data. I have received many comments from teachers and other stakeholders about the process of submitting internal assessment returns to the SQA. I have pursued this as a matter of priority with the SQA and, following a meeting with the Scottish Executive on 17 November, the SQA has agreed to carry out a feasibility study with a view to implementing a simpler system of internal assessment returns from schools. Such a system would be based on the following:

• Schools would send to SQA the details of units for which they wished candidates to be entered.
• As candidates took the units, the schools would record the results of these units on their own systems as they do at present.

• In early May, SQA would send a report to schools providing details of the units for which entries were held on their system based on information previously provided by the schools.
• By 31 May, schools would advise the SQA of any units for which the result was a fail, deferred or withdrawn.
• Where the SQA had not been notified of any exception by the school, candidates' unit results would be treated as a pass.

It is recognised that the needs of FE colleges are different to those of schools. The SQA will have further consultation with the Association of Scottish Colleges to discuss what data handling arrangements would best meet colleges' needs.

I want to be sure that the proposals are feasible before they are implemented and therefore I have asked the SQA to carry out rigorous checks to ensure that this system will work. The outcome of the feasibility study will be known within the next few weeks.

The new Scottish Qualifications Certificate was used for the first time in the summer of 2000. The Scottish Executive and SQA received feedback from a range of stakeholders on the design of the new Certificate, in particular on the reporting of core skills and the need for further information on the certificate's meaning for parents and employers. I have asked the SQA to revise the certificate in time for Diet 2001. My aim is to ensure that the new Certificate is easier to understand for candidates, parents, centres and employers. The SQA will send details of its proposals to centres and stakeholders early next year.

In addition, the Health Education Board for Scotland has produced a leaflet designed to answer parents' questions and allay any concerns they may have about MMR vaccination. The leaflet has been issued to health boards and general practitioners.

Current uptake figures indicate that 93.1 per cent of children under 24 months in Scotland received MMR vaccination in the second quarter of 2000. We wish to see this figure rise to the target of 95% so that a sufficient level of immunity is achieved to prevent epidemics of these potentially serious diseases.

The Executive is aware of concerns about this year's Higher Still maths exam. Officials are monitoring the situation with the Scottish Qualifications Authority. Ron Tuck, Chief Executive of the SQA, is gathering feedback on the exam and will respond to the views expressed.

2. Net expenditure met from grants, non-domestic rates, council tax and balances.3. Data for 1998-99 are provisional and may be subject to change.