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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Chancellor makes education pledge | Chancellor makes education pledge |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Gordon Brown has outlined his ambition for Scotland to have the best educational standards in the world. | Gordon Brown has outlined his ambition for Scotland to have the best educational standards in the world. |
| The chancellor was speaking at the Microsoft Government Leaders Forum at the Scottish Parliament. | The chancellor was speaking at the Microsoft Government Leaders Forum at the Scottish Parliament. |
| Mr Brown took part in a question and answer session with the software firm's chairman, Bill Gates. | Mr Brown took part in a question and answer session with the software firm's chairman, Bill Gates. |
| The two-day conference, which began on Tuesday, has involved international decision-makers. | The two-day conference, which began on Tuesday, has involved international decision-makers. |
| Mr Brown told delegates how Scotland led the world 500 years ago in pioneering a school in every village and must now lead the world in lifelong education. | Mr Brown told delegates how Scotland led the world 500 years ago in pioneering a school in every village and must now lead the world in lifelong education. |
| It is now time to set our sights higher, raise our ambition to the best world-class standards Chancellor Gordon Brown | It is now time to set our sights higher, raise our ambition to the best world-class standards Chancellor Gordon Brown |
| He said: "First Scotland is creating more jobs, with unemployment today lower than London. | He said: "First Scotland is creating more jobs, with unemployment today lower than London. |
| "Secondly, Scotland is reducing child poverty faster, removing one of the main barriers to young people's life chances. | "Secondly, Scotland is reducing child poverty faster, removing one of the main barriers to young people's life chances. |
| "Third, Scotland has seen Europe's fastest rise in educational investment since 1997." | "Third, Scotland has seen Europe's fastest rise in educational investment since 1997." |
| Other leaders taking part in the Holyrood forum include Danuta Hubner, European commissioner for regional policy, and Wim Kok, former prime minister of the Netherlands. | Other leaders taking part in the Holyrood forum include Danuta Hubner, European commissioner for regional policy, and Wim Kok, former prime minister of the Netherlands. |
| World class | World class |
| Mr Gates and First Minister Jack McConnell signed a joint statement of intent between the Scottish Executive and Microsoft on Tuesday, aimed at addressing the growing number of jobless youngsters in Scotland who are not in education or training. | Mr Gates and First Minister Jack McConnell signed a joint statement of intent between the Scottish Executive and Microsoft on Tuesday, aimed at addressing the growing number of jobless youngsters in Scotland who are not in education or training. |
| The chancellor said there could be no impediments to the education of the country's youngsters. | The chancellor said there could be no impediments to the education of the country's youngsters. |
| He said: "It is now time to set our sights higher, raise our ambition to the best world-class standards. | He said: "It is now time to set our sights higher, raise our ambition to the best world-class standards. |
| Jack McConnell and Mr Gates announced a new training programme | |
| "Our ambition for education, to raise the floor and to remove the ceiling, a higher floor for all to build from, with no ceiling for anyone to be held back, no limits to potential, no cap on aspiration - no child left behind. | "Our ambition for education, to raise the floor and to remove the ceiling, a higher floor for all to build from, with no ceiling for anyone to be held back, no limits to potential, no cap on aspiration - no child left behind. |
| "I want every child to have the chances I have had and that my children have." | "I want every child to have the chances I have had and that my children have." |
| However, Annabel Goldie MSP, Scottish Conservative Leader, challenged Mr Brown directly on his visit to Edinburgh. | However, Annabel Goldie MSP, Scottish Conservative Leader, challenged Mr Brown directly on his visit to Edinburgh. |
| She said: "Welcome back to a country which has lost 1,000 manufacturing jobs already this year. | She said: "Welcome back to a country which has lost 1,000 manufacturing jobs already this year. |
| "Where the civil service is on strike; 200 pupils a day are being excluded from school; the number of health administrators and managers is growing faster than the number of nurses. | "Where the civil service is on strike; 200 pupils a day are being excluded from school; the number of health administrators and managers is growing faster than the number of nurses. |
| "Every six hours someone dies from alcohol abuse; there is a looming crisis in doctor numbers; the ferry tendering process is in tatters. | "Every six hours someone dies from alcohol abuse; there is a looming crisis in doctor numbers; the ferry tendering process is in tatters. |
| "And under your Lib-Lab pact our criminal justice system is discredited. And these are only this week's headlines." | "And under your Lib-Lab pact our criminal justice system is discredited. And these are only this week's headlines." |