Smith: Raising attainment must be motivation for change

12.01.00am GMT Wed 10th Mar 2010

Commenting on Conservative calls for 'radical change' in Scotland's education system, Liberal Democrat Education spokesperson Margaret Smith said:

"Education is about ceaselessly learning from the world's best examples and this goes for improving schooling as well.

"Through our own Education Working group and through my work on the Parliamentary Education Committee, we will continue to look at other ways of structuring education around the world.

"We are willing to look at changes so long as the motivation is raising attainment and opportunity in schools, rather than dogma.

"Scotland's future is not worth change for change's sake.

"A whole new curriculum and new qualifications are imminent at a time when our schools are suffering from budget cuts and falling teacher numbers .

"During this perfect educational storm, I doubt that massive structural change will be seen as a priority by teachers and headteachers