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MSP goes back to school 4/12/11
MSP Alasdair Allan went back to school on Friday. He spent the day accompanying pupils around the Nicolson Institute in Stornoway to find out what life is like as a pupil in a local secondary school in Scotland.
Mr Allan, who is also an Education Minister in the Scottish Government, attended classes as varied as Gaelic, Science, Computing and Latin, and discussed the state of the education system with pupils.
Alasdair Allan commented: “It’s no bad thing for any politician to be reminded how Scotland’s schools work– and how much they have changed. Given the work I now have as Minister for Learning and Skills, I particularly appreciate the chance to spend a full day in the Nicolson Institute, and hope I will get the chance to hear the views of young people and their teachers in a more informal way than I usually do.
“The Nicolson is undergoing a time of great change, with its new building going up. It’s a time of change for students and teachers too, as the Curriculum for Excellence is implemented. I don’t underestimate the scale of that task for teachers, or indeed the stresses and pressures involved in being a secondary school pupil at any time.
“But I am keen to find out more about the life and achievements of this great school. I hope go back to my two day jobs – MSP for the islands and Minister for Skills and Learning – a bit better informed about the issues that matter to this and other schools. I expect to feel very old during my visit – not least because Higher Modern Studies no longer contains courses on the Soviet Union and Apartheid, and the thankfully teacher no longer has a belt!
“However I hope I will come away the better for my visit, and would like to thank the Rector of the school, the staff and pupils for making it possible.”