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McConnell makes school leaver vow | |
(about 22 hours later) | |
First Minister Jack McConnell has said a third term Labour administration at Holyrood would place education as its most important priority. | |
Mr McConnell pledged that by 2012 no 16 or 17-year-old would leave school without being "meaningfully engaged" in education, work or vocational training. | |
He was addressing delegates at the Scottish Labour Conference in Oban. | |
Mr McConnell also unveiled plans to extend foreign language teaching to the youngest pupils in primary school. | |
He also said he would boost the importance of science in schools. | |
The first minister said that specialist science teachers would provide back-up for class teachers at primary school. | |
A sunrise agenda for three to 11-year-olds would see more investment in pre-school education and training, he said. | |
He told delegates that Labour's first two terms were about meeting public priorities. | |
Mr McConnell, a former maths teacher, said a third term would be about unlocking people's potential. | |
We have a clear goal, by 2012 every 16 and 17-year-old in the country will be meaningfully engaged, learning and developing Jack McConnell | |
He said: "Alex Salmond wants to run the economy on a dwindling supply of oil. | |
"I want to run our economy on Scotland's most precious resource, the talents and skills of our people and our children." | "I want to run our economy on Scotland's most precious resource, the talents and skills of our people and our children." |
The first minister said he would be looking to make leaving school at the ages of 16 and 17 conditional on a youngster entering education, employment, training or full-time volunteering. | |
He said he had asked Anton Colella, the man brought in to sort out the Scottish Qualifications Authority after the exams chaos six years ago, to look at the options available. | |
Mr McConnell said: "We have a clear goal, by 2012 every 16 and 17-year-old in the country will be meaningfully engaged, learning and developing, preparing for the new competition in the global economy." | |
The first minister also set out a range of policies which Labour would commit to if it was to be returned to power after next May's Holyrood elections. | |
They included: | |
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Nicola Stugeon, the SNP's deputy leader, said: "Ten years ago Labour were elected on the promise of education, education, education. | |
"Now, after a whole decade Mr McConnell says education is to be his top priority. | |
"What on earth has he been doing during his time in office?" | |
She claimed the first minister had "lost touch with reality". |
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