WASHINGTON: Classrooms are facing a “perfect storm” with investment down, teacher shortages and falling numeracy levels, according to Labour education spokesman Iain Gray.
It comes at a time when the Scottish Government is committed to get more youngsters taking up science and engineering subjects.
Spending on teaching science subjects in Scotland is significantly less than in English schools, a recent report by the Learned Societies Group, including the Royal Society of Edinburgh found.
This year marks the 150th anniversary of the publication by the great Scottish scientist James Clerk Maxwell of his ground-breaking theory of his Electromagnetism – but there are now doubts about whether the future generation young Scottish scientists could achieve such heights.
“The Scottish Government’s own figures show a fall in numeracy levels at all levels, primary and secondary,” Mr Gray said, himself a former physics teacher.
“This means science teaching in Scottish schools is facing a perfect storm. Low investment, teacher shortages and falling numeracy levels. All are adding to concerns about the impact of the new curriculum on pupil numbers choosing science.
