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New education man facing critics New education minister appointed
(about 12 hours later)
Scotland's new education secretary is to face opposition parties at Holyrood amid on-going concerns over the future of schooling. Scotland's new education secretary has been formally voted into his post by MSPs, as opposition parties demanded a fresh start for schooling.
Fiona Hyslop was demoted from the post on Tuesday, with her job taken on by Culture Minister Mike Russell. Mike Russell has said he wanted a full debate about the way Scotland's education system should be run.
The government has come under sustained attack on falling teacher numbers, class sizes and school buildings.The government has come under sustained attack on falling teacher numbers, class sizes and school buildings.
Mr Russell said he wanted a full debate about the way Scotland's education system should be run. It was announced this week that Mr Russell would replace Fiona Hyslop as education secretary.
He has so far declined to be drawn on his predecessor's claim that the government may consider removing schools from council control. First Minister Alex Salmond described Mr Russell as a "worthy successor" to Ms Hyslop, who has been demoted to his former job of culture minister.
The new education secretary will face up to rival MSPs during a Liberal Democrat-led debate in parliament. Government 'mess'
Literacy testing Mr Salmond said: "He will bring to his new post the energy and enthusiasm which he has displayed as minister for culture and external affairs."
The party said the Scottish government had presided over two years of failure in education and called on Mr Russell to "rebuild the bond of trust" between central government and local councils. Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray said Mr Salmond "blinked" after the Liberal Democrats threatened a vote of no confidence.
The Tories said Mr Russell's first task must be to implement tougher testing of literacy and numeracy levels by the time pupils finish primary school. He went on: "Let us not forget the seriousness of the task Mr Russell now faces. Under the SNP, Scottish education is in crisis."
Mr Russell was appointed in a reshuffle which saw Ms Hyslop take on his former ministerial job. Murdo Fraser, the deputy Tory leader, said Ms Hyslop had been lumbered with having to bring in policies without the proper support.
The move came just days after Scottish government statistics showed a fall in teacher numbers of 1,348 over the past year. "Frankly, even the Angel Gabriel as education secretary simply could not have delivered on the SNP's manifesto pledges," he said.
Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott agreed a "fresh" minister was needed, adding: "The first minister needs to make it plain that Mike Russell as the new education secretary has to sort out the mess he has inherited from his own government."
'Rebuild trust'
Mr Russell's appointment came as opposition parties demanded the Scottish government must "rebuild the bond of trust" between central government and local councils.
They said one of Mr Russell's first tasks must be to improve literacy and numeracy levels.
The ministerial reshuffle came just days after Scottish government statistics showed a fall in teacher numbers of 1,348 over the past year.
The SNP has come under fire over its 2007 manifesto pledge to cap pupil numbers at 18 in the first three years of primary education.The SNP has come under fire over its 2007 manifesto pledge to cap pupil numbers at 18 in the first three years of primary education.
In September, ministers said they would bring in legislation to cap numbers at 25 pupils and only in primary one, sparking opposition party claims that the Scottish government had dropped one of its key policies.In September, ministers said they would bring in legislation to cap numbers at 25 pupils and only in primary one, sparking opposition party claims that the Scottish government had dropped one of its key policies.
The SNP and the Tories voted in favour of Mr Russell becoming education secretary, with Labour and the Liberal Democrats abstaining.
His appointment was approved by 58 votes to zero, with 52 abstentions.