SNP Campaign Director and Deputy First Minister John Swinney has highlighted the opportunity to transform Scotland’s education system on Thursday by re-electing Nicola Sturgeon as First Minister and said that the only way to guarantee the implementation of the ambitious plans is to cast both votes for the SNP.
Nicola Sturgeon has set out plans for a re-elected SNP Government to:
• Invest a further £750 million in tackling the attainment gap – allocating more money to head teachers
• Give all our children the best start in life by doubling childcare with £500m more per year to be spent on early years’ education by the end of the parliament
• Protect the number of full-time equivalent college places
• Implement the recommendations of the Widening Access Commission to ensure more university entrants from deprived communities.
• Always keep university education free of Labour/Tory/Lib Dem tuition fees
Commenting, Mr Swinney said:
“Nicola Sturgeon is clear that if she is re-elected as First Minister on Thursday, education will be the defining priority of her government.
“The SNP has a strong track record on education, with record numbers of school leavers going into work, education or training, exam passes at a record high and more 18 year olds from deprived areas applying for university than ever before.
“We also know that there is more work to be done. A re-elected SNP Government will work tirelessly to continue to improve our education system and give all our young people the best start in life.
“Our bold, ambitious plans to reform our education system, tackle the gap in achievement between pupils from rich and poor backgrounds and to boost investment in early years’ education will give every child in Scotland the best chance to fulfil their potential.
“The only way we can ensure we put these plans into action is by re-electing Nicola Sturgeon as First Minister and an SNP Government with the only credible plan to keep our education system moving forward – and we can only guarantee that by voting SNP with both votes on Thursday.”
