Scottish Texts in Higher and National 5

Created on: 05 Dec 2012 | Last modified: 20 Oct 2015

EIS considers the cultural argument about Scottish texts in the new Higher and National 5 English exams to have been won and to be compelling: Scottish pupils should be taught Scottish texts at all levels as part of their learning in, and as a mandatory feature of, English courses.

However, the decision to make it compulsory for all pupils to answer an examination question on a Scottish text goes against the spirit and the principles of Curriculum for Excellence, narrows and limits pupils’ exposure to Scottish literature and detracts from deep learning and critical thinking.

EIS opposition to the Scottish Government’s decision to include a compulsory question on Scottish texts in these exams is therefore based on specific educational arguments about assessment, the principles of CfE and the experiences of learners, and not any cultural argument about Scottish literature.

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