Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton Constituency, is supporting Scottish Labour’s new ‘education comeback plan’ for Scotland following the devastating Covid pandemic. This was launched by Scottish Labour Leader, Anas Sarwar last week.

The proposals which the party will take into the election campaign include a ‘personal comeback plan’ for every pupil in Scotland on a needs-based assessment, and a tutoring programme for all ages and all pupils.

The plan includes a resit guarantee of a free place at college to take national qualifications should this be the chosen path of any pupil from the cohort affected by Covid.

Jackie Baillie is supporting the ‘summer comeback’ programme to ensure children can enjoy themselves in the coming months, with resources for national youth, arts and outdoors organisations, school trips to outdoor activity centres, and free access to sport, transport, outdoor activities and culture. Scottish Labour has also unveiled plans to support the teaching workforce, with a guaranteed completion opportunity for probationary teachers and enhanced digital training for staff.

The ‘education comeback plan’ will be part of a ‘national recovery plan’ that Anas Sarwar and Jackie Baillie will take to the voters in the Holyrood election.

Anas Sarwar MSP said:

“As tens of thousands of children finally return to school, I pay tribute to everyone who has been home schooling these past few months and the teachers who have continued to support their pupils.

“A generation of young people have had their learning disrupted by Covid, which is why we are publishing an education comeback plan for Scotland’s children.

“At the heart of the plan is the recognition that we have a moral imperative to ensure that our next generation do not carry the weight of the pandemic.

“It is a plan that delivers hope for our young people, restores Scottish education, supports teachers, and makes sure that every child has the right to a decent start in life.”

Jackie Baillie MSP said:

“The impact of Covid on general attainment, social and educational development and the life chances for our young people could be significant. I have spoken to many local parents and teachers who have very real concerns about the impact that the last year has had on their children and pupils.

“Not only will this generation of pupils have had to deal with the impact of this year, they are also likely to leave school to an uncertain economic future.

“Never before have young people had to such endure disruption to their learning and their social development. Our response must be of a scale that matches the challenge.

“We must support them with all the ideas, energy, but most importantly, resources, that we have with a recovery plan for education.”