RSE: How Does the Education Reform Agenda Align with Scotland’s Biggest Priorities?

The Royal Society of Edinburgh’s report, ‘Gaps, Overlaps, and Challenges‘, examines how Scotland’s education reform agenda aligns with the Scottish Government’s strategic goals, identifying strengths, shortcomings, and areas needing urgent attention.

The report emphasizes the critical role of education and skills in fostering economic prosperity, societal well-being, and resilience, while highlighting misalignments between current reforms and national priorities.

Key Findings

Alignment Gaps

The education reform agenda, including initiatives like the National Strategy for Economic Transformation (NSET) and the ‘Fit for the Future’ post-school learning system, lacks cohesive integration with broader policy goals. There is no overarching plan linking education reforms to societal and economic aspirations, leading to fragmented policy implementation.

Parity of Esteem

The report calls for equal recognition of diverse educational pathways (vocational, on-the-job, and academic) to address societal biases and better meet workforce needs. This is critical for supporting Scotland’s economic and social objectives.

Skills and Workforce Development

Challenges include ensuring access to relevant training for both new learners and existing workers to meet Scotland’s future needs. The curtailment of programs like the Flexible Workforce Development Fund (FWDF) has limited opportunities, and the report urges monitoring the impact of such decisions.

Data and Evidence Gaps

There is a lack of robust data on educational outcomes, particularly for older working adults, hindering evidence-based policy-making. The report recommends increased research to address skills shortages and promote equity.

Systemic Challenges

Despite multiple reviews (e.g., OECD, Muir, Hayward), the absence of a unified strategy results in disconnected or conflicting recommendations, with limited practical action taken. The report highlights the need for systemic reform to ensure a seamless learner journey from early years to lifelong learning.

Recommendations

• Prioritize funding and reinstate valuable programs like the FWDF to support workforce development.
• Enhance alignment between education reforms and national priorities, particularly by linking NSET to education policy more deliberately.
• Conduct more research into older adults’ contributions to address skills shortages and promote equity.
• Foster parity of esteem across educational pathways to support diverse career paths.
• Strengthen data collection and evidence-based approaches to measure educational success holistically.
• Empower teachers as curriculum leaders and ensure reforms are supported by robust professional learning and systemic coherence.

The report concludes that while Scotland’s education system has potential, closer alignment with national priorities, better resource allocation, and systemic coherence are essential to tackle longstanding challenges and secure a prosperous future.