Have standards of general knowledge and grammar fallen in schools in Scotland?
I agree wholeheartedly with Professor Farrell. As a college lecturer I am constantly being faced with students whose basic spelling, grammar and numeric are simply appalling. It would be far too simplistic however to point an accusing finger solely at the education system. There are political and economic factors to take into account. The proportion of the population entering Further and Higher education has increased dramatically over the past two decades fuelled by government funding formulas which reward establishments with high intakes and punish those who are more selective. No surprise then that entrance requirements are dropped yet pass rates steadily increase. This is no accident. As Scotland has become increasingly de-industrialised the unemployment figures have been massaged by pressurising education establishments to increase their numbers with people who under different economic conditions would either be disinclined or not suitably qualified to enter them. This is not to p
