There are three questions to be put as a result of today’s business. The first question is, that amendment S6M-08291.2, in the name of Stephen Kerr, which seeks to amend motion S6M-08291, in the name of Shirley-Anne Somerville, on the expansion of vocational and technical qualifications in Scotland’s secondary schools, be agreed to. Are we agreed?

Members:

No.

The Presiding Officer:

There will be a division. There will be a short suspension to allow members to access the digital voting system.

17:05 Meeting suspended.

17:08 On resuming—

We move to the division on amendment S6M-08291.2, in the name of Stephen Kerr. Members should cast their votes now.

The vote is closed.

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I was unable to connect to the digital platform. I would have voted no.

The Presiding Officer:

Thank you. We will ensure that that is recorded.

We have a point of order from Brian Whittle.

[

Inaudible

.]—yes.

The Presiding Officer:

Thank you, Mr Whittle. We will ensure that that is recorded.

The Presiding Officer:

The result of the division on amendment S6M-08291.2, in the name of Stephen Kerr, is: For 53, Against 64, Abstentions 0.

Amendment disagreed to.

The next question is, that amendment S6M-08291.1, in the name of Michael Marra, which seeks to amend motion S6M-08291, in the name of Shirley-Anne Somerville, on the expansion of vocational and technical qualifications in Scotland’s secondary schools, be agreed to. Are we agreed?

Members:

No.

The Presiding Officer:

There will be a division.

The vote is closed.

[Inaudible

.]—Presiding Officer. I would have voted yes.

The Presiding Officer:

Thank you. We will ensure that that is recorded.

The Presiding Officer:

The result of the division on amendment S6M-08291.1, in the name of Michael Marra, is: For 54, Against 65, Abstentions 0.

Amendment disagreed to.

The final question is, that motion S6M-08291, in the name of Shirley-Anne Somerville, on the expansion of vocational and technical qualifications in Scotland’s secondary schools, be agreed to.

Motion agreed to,

That the Parliament recognises the wide range of courses, including vocational and technical qualifications, on offer to Scotland’s senior phase learners, providing them with a breadth of options to develop their abilities and aspirations in order to reach their full potential; welcomes that Scotland’s secondary school learners are now undertaking a much wider range of courses than ever before, with 27.2% of school leavers in 2021-22 gaining vocational and technical qualifications at SCQF Level 5 and above, compared with just 7.3% in 2013-14; acknowledges that young people undertaking vocational and technical courses and qualifications, often facilitated through school-college partnerships, reflects the strengths of the Curriculum for Excellence and provides learners with the best chance of success in further learning, life and work; celebrates that a record number of young people were in work, training or further study after leaving school in 2022, with 95.7% of school leavers in a positive destination three months after leaving school; acknowledges the significant impact of Developing the Young Workforce (DYW), Scotland’s youth employment strategy, which was launched in 2014; pays thanks to the DYW regional groups and DYW school coordinators for their work in increasing opportunities for, and participation in, work-based learning for young people; recognises that each individual’s learner pathway is different and should be celebrated in equal measure, and commends teachers, schools, colleges, universities, employers and third sector organisations across Scotland for their commitment to improving the opportunities for young people to undertake vocational and professional qualifications in Scotland.

That concludes decision time.

Members’ business will be published tomorrow, 22 March 2023, as soon as the text is available.