The Scottish government has been criticised for a “pitiful” lack of progress on the creation of a National Digital Academy, which was a key pledge in the 2021 SNP Scottish Parliament election manifesto.
Freedom of information requests by the Scottish Conservatives and responses to written questions by the party’s education spokesperson, Liam Kerr, reveal that any plans for the academy are still at a “development” stage.
The SNP’s manifesto said a National Digital Academy would allow people to study Highers regardless of their age, where they live or where their school is located and promised to end the “postcode lottery” of subject choice.
However, in over two-and-a-half years since the election, the SNP has confirmed that there has been no cash invested in a National Digital Academy and that four civil servants are working on the plans.
In a written answer to Mr Kerr on 27 November, education secretary Jenny Gilruth said that “there have been no costs incurred to date on the development of a National Digital Academy”.
She stated that the Scottish government was “currently developing options for a National Digital Academy, adding: “Once developed, these will include an estimate of future potential costs.”
Ms Gilruth also said in a separate response issued on the same date that “a core team of four officials within Education Scotland” were working to develop options.
Mr Kerr described the lack of progress as “pitiful” and said the failure to spend “a single penny” in the two and a half years since the election on a National Digital Academy was “the latest in a litany of education-related failures”.
National Digital Academy
The Scottish government has come under fire over its track record on education. The criticism has been triggered because of concerns over behaviour in schools and the country’s performance in the Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa).
The Pisa results in maths, reading and science represented Scotland’s lowest or joint lowest scores - with Scotland’s score in maths dropping by 18 points. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 20 points equates to a year of learning.
Mr Kerr said: “For plans to still only be at a development stage shows a complete lack of urgency from successive SNP education secretaries.
“Jenny Gilruth must urgently explain why so few people are working on this key manifesto commitment and when plans for a National Digital Academy will finally come to fruition.”
A Scottish government spokesperson said: “The Scottish government is currently developing options for a National Digital Academy. This work is underway and will include engagement with key stakeholders.”
