Stewart Stevenson Highlights the Importance of Informal Education

Stewart Stevenson, MSP for Banffshire & Buchan Coast, has this week highlighted the importance of informal education.

Speaking in a Scottish Government debate entitled: Delivering a World Class Education System, Mr Stevenson said:

“We should not imagine that all education takes place in school. It is important that parents and relatives are equally equipped to answer the intelligent questions that our youngsters inevitably come up with.”

Mr Stevenson went on to highlight the importance of trying new ideas in our education system, as highlighted in the OECD report, he said:

“The OECD report refers to international examples, including the Ontario teacher leadership and learning programme and the Alberta initiative for school improvement. That gives a fascinating insight into what can be done elsewhere. We have to accept that there is no single answer and that, actually, the most important thing is that those who are engaged in education are committed to picking up and trying new ideas.”

Mr Stevenson finished by praising the OECD report as a good interim report, commenting:

“There is more to do, but I am confident that the Government is willing and able to do it and is actually doing it.”