It is “vital” for Scotland’s future economic prosperity that young people develop the right attitude and skills for work while still at school, Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop said today.
Hyslop said that Scotland's future economic prosperity depends on having a highly motivated, highly skilled workforce, adding that we “can’t afford to wait” for young people to leave school before they are introduced to the world of work.
Her comments follow a positive endorsement from HMIE for the enterprise in education programme. The ‘Improving Enterprise in Education’ report highlighted that the programme: encourages strong partnerships with businesses, colleges and the wider community; supports quality learning and teaching in all areas of the curriculum; and promotes good attendance, behaviour, motivation and attainment.
Hyslop said the programme provides an important focus on skills for learning, employability and entrepreneurship, which she said are “skills which everyone needs.”
She continued: "Our challenge now is to develop further use of effective enterprise activities as part of our continuing work on Curriculum for Excellence.
"Enterprise education allows schools to provide all pupils with high-quality vocational education that can provide enriching opportunities for pupils of all ages, regardless of their abilities, interests and career aspirations."
However, Liberal Democrat Schools and Skills spokesperson Hugh O’Donnell expressed concern that teachers are not being sufficiently trained to teach enterprise and called for more support for teachers to undertake enterprise training.
He said: “I am pleased that this report recognises the benefits that Enterprise Education brings to young people. I am, however, concerned that teachers are not being supported sufficiently to train in enterprise in order to teach young people.
“There are a number of excellent enterprise courses being run in Scotland, but all too often they depend on the enthusiasm and personal interest of teachers, rather than any training they have been given.
“I want to see teachers being given more Continuous Professional Development time to develop their own enterprise skills.”
Readers have left 6 comments. 1. Enterprise in education programme praised
Jane Richardson - Manager Oracle, Unregistered Oracle Academy offers an enterprise and ICT curriculum for all Scottish schools . It involves over 100 hours of CPD per teacher at and investment of £253 ( grant value of £174,000) per school.
Many schools who wish to take part in this programme cannot afford the fee to participate as their CPD budget will not allow it . 2. Enterprise in education programme praised
Linda Allison, Unregistered I am very pleased that Enterprise in Education is being given a higher profile in our schools. Enterprise in Education is about "teaching in an enterprising way" to ensure our pupils develop the "softer" skills needed for employability rather than to "teach enterprise" per se as a subject. 3. Enterprise in education programme praised
Graeme Easton, Unregistered Pleased to see that Enterprise in Education is getting the profile that it deserves. As an Enterprise Development Officer it is heartening to read. However it is only right that people are clear on what Enterprise in Education is before commenting. I would suggest that Hugh O'Donnell does not have a full grasp of Enteprise in Education given the quotes attributed to him.
Fact - Enterprise is NOT taught. Enterprise is NOT a subject. Enterprise is an approach to teaching and learning. Students do not 'study' Enterprise in the same way as they may study Modern Studies or Chemistry. However students can be taught in enterprising ways and be enterprising in the way the learn about Modern Studies - for example by making the subject real and relevan (linking with the world of work and bringing the textbook to life by utitising the skills and abilities of organisations who 'do' Moderns Studies in their everyday life. It is about allowing students to take responsibility for their learning. Enterprise is also about providing opportunities for work-based vocational learning and appropriate career education. Enterprise is about having a can-do attitude.
It is not about just about entrepreurship in the sense of encouraging students to set up in business.
There are already many CPD course for teachers to learn about enterprise in education - however we all have to be clear and define it the same way. 4. Enterprise in education programme praised
Linda Allison, Unregistered Glad to hear Enterprise in Education is getting a higher profile in our schools. Enterprise in Education is all about "enterprising approaches" to learning and teaching and not about "teaching" enterprise as a subject per se. 5. Enterprise in education programme praised
Heather Gray, Unregistered Many local authorities employ development officers for short periods to train teachers in Enterprise Education. Perhaps short secondments do not allow enough continued support to ensure teachers trained in Enterprise have supported delivery back in the classroom. 6. Enterprise in education programme praised
Colin G Campbell, Unregistered Dundee City Council has sponsored Business Awareness Programmes for all its secondary schools for the past 10 years. Similar events are available throughout the country. Visit www.enterprise-education.org.uk for details.
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