This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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McConnell acts on exams results inquiry
03/11/2000
Scotland's new Education Minister Jack McConnell today acted immediately to restore confidence in the Scottish exam system.
Speaking as the report of the independent inquiry into the exam difficulties was published by the Scottish Executive, Mr McConnell said:
"The problems highlighted by this report simply cannot happen again next year. We must restore confidence and put in place a means of monitoring progress that informs and involves all stakeholders including Parliament.
"The report by Deloitte and Touche paints a stark picture of an organisation with significant management weaknesses, where poor strategic and operational planning led eventually to a data management crisis from which it could not recover in time.
"None of this was a surprise. These themes have come up again and again at the Education, Culture and Sport Committee inquiry. However, after reading the report, I was appalled by the scale of the organisational failure.
"Deloitte and Touche have made a number of recommendations. I will ensure that the SQA acts on them.
"That is why I am announcing an immediate and comprehensive action to make sure this does not happen again. It is imperative that we now start to rebuild confidence in the system amongst parents, teachers and pupils.
"The action I am taking today includes:
* I have accepted the resignation of David Miller, Chair of the SQA Board .
* I have appointed John Ward as interim chairman. He is a widely experienced chairman in both the public and private sectors and will provide strong leadership at this difficult time. I am taking legal advice on the rest of the board membership.
* I am instructing the SQA to provide me immediately with a formal compliance statement on how they intend to put the recommendations into practice; I want an immediate action plan within two weeks and I will publish it.
* I will set up an early warning system. A Ministerial review group, with stakeholder membership will monitor progress against the report and alert me if any preparations for next year's exams start to slip;
* I will insist that the SQA to report to me in writing at monthly intervals; and,
* I will report to Parliament regularly on the progress made by the review group and on the reports made to me by SQA.
"My top priority is to ensure that next year's exam results are accurate and on time. The young people of Scotland deserve the best. We will leave no stone unturned to ensure that the SQA make that a reality.
BACKGROUND
- The former Minister for Children and Education, Sam Galbraith announced to Parliament on 6 September 2000 that Deloitte and Touche had been commissioned to undertake the independent inquiry into exam results issues concerning the SQA.
- As announced by Mr Galbraith, the remit for the review covered all aspects of the production of this year's results, and the consultants were asked to provide a set of clear recommendations on how to ensure that these problems did not recur in future years.
- The Education, Culture and Sport Committee and Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee are also carrying out inquiries into exam results. The Deloitte and Touche report has been passed to the Committees in order that they can take account of its findings.
- First Minister Henry McLeish transferred the sponsorship of the SQA from the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Department to the Education Department today. Ministerial responsibility for the SQA moves to the Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs.
News Release: SE2842/2000
3 Nov 2000