The supreme body of the Association, Annual Congress, met in late April.  The main items of business follow.

Jack McConnel, Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs, was the keynote speaker at Congress.  He addressed representatives and guests on topics such as teacher/government partnership, the McCrone Agreement and the Scottish Parliament's commitment to the education system in Scotland.

  Jack McConnel addressing Congress 2001

MOTIONS TO CONGRESS

Congress approved the following motions:

*This Association, having endorsed the agreement on the implementation of the proposals emanating from the McCrone Report, calls on all local authorities and the Scottish Executive to fully support both the detail of the agreement and the spirit which underpins it.  Congress is concerned at reports of unilateral action being taken by certain local authorities which may hinder rather than help the process of agreement, and calls on all local authorities to work in full partnership with teacher trade unions.

*Congress records its concern about the potential effect of Conditions of Service changes on the continued provision of a Guidance service in Scottish schools.  Congress calls upon the SNCT:
a) to clarify how Guidance will be delivered post - McCrone, and
b) to ensure that Guidance provision in schools will not be adversely affected by changes to the structure of promoted posts.

*Congress notes with concern the increasing number of initiatives imposed on schools. Congress therefore calls on the Minister for Education to impose a moratorium on any further initiatives until an audit of the likely implications of their impact on the workload of pupils and teachers has been considered by SEED.

*This Association calls upon local authorities to use modern languages teachers from secondary schools to support primary teachers as a means towards achieving greater effectiveness and diversity in modern languages teaching in the primary school.

*This Association endorses the aim of SEED to integrate the use of ICT into teaching and learning processes across the entire secondary curriculum, and calls for an urgent review of the curricular structure  suggested by the National Grid for Learning to ensure that this aim is met. 

*This Association reiterates its commitment to its policy on Disruptive Pupils.  The Association recognises that there are pupils with such severe social, emotional or behavioural difficulties that their needs cannot be met in mainstream schools, and that attempts to do so seriously affect the quality of service to these and other pupils.  We therefore call upon the Scottish Executive to ensure that sufficient alternative and appropriate provision is in place to meet the needs of these pupils, without disruption to the education of others.

*Congress notes with concern the proposed series of increases in subscriptions to the General Teaching Council for Scotland, in particular as these increases coincide with a substantial reduction in teacher representation on the Council.  Congress believes that, unless teacher representation is restored to its current level, the principles and funding of the GTC should be reviewed.

EMERGENCY MOTIONS

*This Association, having endorsed the agreement on the implementation of the proposals emanating from the McCrone Report, calls on all local authorities and the Scottish Executive to fully support both the detail of the agreement and the spirit which underpins it.  Congress is concerned at reports of unilateral action being taken by certain local authorities which may hinder rather than help the process of agreement, and calls on all local authorities to work in full partnership with teacher trade unions.  

*Congress expresses its deep - seated concern about the failure of the SQA to listen to the teaching profession, and in particular this Association, on a series of key issues relating to the 2001 Examination Diet.  These issues include:

(a) failure to restore the period of time allocated for examination marking to the previous levels as requested by teachers;

(b) ignoring the recommendation of the Higher Still Liaison Group that the “default” model should be used for internal assessments in 2001;

(c) delaying the recommended changes in the system of compensatory awards;

(d) delaying the date of issue of certificates in 2001 against advice from teacher organisations.

 Congress calls on the SQA to produce detailed proposals for improving communication with the  teaching profession in the 2002 and subsequent Diets, believing that it is essential that better relations are restored for the good of all young people in secondary schools

*Congress, believing that the parameters laid down for the appeals process in the 2000 Diet were insufficiently clear, calls upon the SQA  to fully clarify to all secondary teachers precisely what range of assessment material is appropriate for pupil assessments which  may be used for appeal purposes.

LIFE MEMBERSHIP

Life Membership will be conferred on: John Fraser and Louise Goldsack.