Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie has criticised the SNP’s handling of Scottish Education after it was reported that the Scottish Government legislation to enforce maximum class sizes of 25 will not be ready in time for the next school year.

This announcement from the Scottish Government regarding the delayed legislation is the latest set-back for the SNP’s manifesto promise that all Primary 1-3 children would be in class sizes of 18 or less.

Figures show less than a quarter of all pupils in West Dunbartonshire in Primaries One to Three are in class sizes of 18 or less with only a minor improvement in the figure in Argyll and Bute with a third of all pupils in Primary One, Two and Three in class sizes of 18 or less. These figures are repeated across Scotland and as a result Education Minister Mike Russell has scaled back the class size pledge in recent weeks.

This latest blow comes as educationalists called for a delay in the Curriculum For Excellence reforms that have been mishandled by the SNP.

Jackie said, "The SNP have failed to keep the promises they made to Scottish pupils, parents and teachers. When he became Education Secretary, Mike Russell gave a commitment to introduce a statutory cap of 25 of class sizes. The deadline has now passed and next year pupils in West Dunbartonshire, Argyll and Bute and elsewhere will face class sizes of up to 30.

"Education in Scotland is suffering under the SNP, with 2000 fewer teachers, 1000 fewer support staff, a Curriculum for Excellence in turmoil and a class size pledge broken not once but twice.

"Parents and teachers across Scotland are becoming increasingly worried by the Scottish Government’s treatment of our schools. It is of no surprise that they took to the streets to protest last week. The SNP need to act immediately to avert a crisis in our schools."