§ Miss BeggTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will publish the Government's Education White Paper; and if he will make a statement. [68124]
§ Mr. DewarI have today published our Education White Paper, entitledTargeting Excellence: Modernising Scotland's Schools. Copies have been sent to all Members with a Scottish constituency, and are also available in the Library of the House.
It sets out a radical programme for improvement and an approach to modernisation to achieve our objective of a world class schools system founded on excellence. At its centre is a focus on the needs of the individual child.
271WThe programme for improvement incorporates a wide range of proposals in the early years, throughout the work of schools and to support children in learning outside the classroom. Key policies include a strategy on literacy and numeracy, the National Grid for Learning, involvement of parents and the piloting of New Community Schools.
Our approach to modernisation includes proposals on the teaching profession and organisation of schools to ensure that the framework within which schools and teachers operate empowers them to take responsibility for their own improvement. Many of these proposals are for further consideration and consultation.
From 1 July 1999 education will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament, and it will be for them to consider how they wish to take forward the proposals outlined in the paper.