Jackie Baillie Condemns Lack Of Action From The SNP On Illiteracy

Local MSP Jackie Baillie has called on the SNP to get on with delivering the Literacy Action Plan that they promised eight months ago.

Scottish Labour’s Literacy Commission reported in January this year and the Education Secretary Mike Russell promised the Scottish Parliament, during the debate on its findings, that he would bring forward a Literacy Action Plan. However eight months on - despite the overwhelming vote in the Parliament in favour of such a plan being brought forward  - nothing has been forthcoming so far from the Scottish Government.

The Literacy Commission found that almost one million Scots have difficulties with literacy and every year nearly 1 in 5 children leave primary school not able to read and write to the basic standard. The Commission’s report called for a zero tolerance approach to tackle the problem of illiteracy and made a number of clear recommendations.

Jackie believes the SNP need to start addressing this issue immediately. She said:

"The Literacy Commission’s report was a wake-up call for Scotland. However eight months after the report and Labour’s debate on the report we’ve seen nothing from the SNP Government.

"Every child in Scotland deserves the tools for future success and eradicating illiteracy is the vital first step in providing these basis skills.

"The truth is that specialist learning support is being removed from schools up and down the country as a result of SNP policies, making the job of classroom teachers more difficult.

"It’s time for Mr Russell to say no to more cuts in Education and tackle illiteracy properly or else make way for a new administration that takes seriously the challenge of improving literacy in Scotland."