2. To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making on implementing the recommendations on the skills delivery landscape in the report, “Fit for the Future: developing a post-school learning system to fuel economic transformation”. (S6O-02633)

The programme for government sets out our plans for implementing reform of our education and skills bodies and putting the voices of children, young people and adult learners at their core.

On post-school learning, James Withers’s report was an important milestone in developing our approach to reform. We have been clear that we accept the direction of travel that is set out in the report, but we will take a little bit of time to fully consider the recommendations and engage with stakeholders before updating the Parliament in the coming months on a set of actions. That is what we are actively doing.

Scottish ministers agree that parity of esteem across all qualifications is essential, with recognition needed of the importance of vocational skills. What is being done to deliver that message to our schools, young people and parents? How can we ensure that employers have greater input into skills development to ensure that the skills are available to fuel future economic growth?

As Kenny Gibson indicates, the theme of parity of esteem comes across strongly in the Withers report. It has also come across in my interactions with a host of interested parties, not least young people who have chosen to undertake apprenticeships.

The message is already being delivered in a number of ways in schools. The Developing the Young Workforce network and careers advisers are important conduits for making young people aware of the range of qualifications that are now available in the senior phase, including foundation apprenticeships, and enabling them to access the support that they need in order to make decisions on their next steps. However, there is more to be done, and the delivery of an enhanced national careers service, as we have in mind, will be central to that.

Employers will always have an important role to play in post-school education and skills development. Withers made important recommendations about strengthening that role, and I am considering how we best do that with a number of employer voices.

The Deputy Presiding Officer:

I will take a couple of brief supplementary questions.

It has been months since the Withers report was published and, as we heard yesterday, the Scottish Government has been largely silent on it. Can the Minister confirm whether the Government intends to implement recommendation 5, on establishing a single national funding body, and, if so, when?

I think that Liam Kerr equates what he terms as silence with inactivity. A great deal has been going on to develop our thinking on the matter. I note, and am sympathetic to, that specific recommendation from the Withers report. However, as Liam Kerr would expect, we are working through any potential unintended consequences that could flow from that. As we all do in this chamber, we want the best outcome for our learners.

Workplace learning is a critical part of ensuring that students maximise the value of what they learn in the classroom or lecture theatre. What is the Scottish Government doing in response to the Withers report to maximise the use of apprenticeships and other forms of workplace learning in the education system in order to support Scotland’s economic growth aspirations?

I agree with Ivan McKee on the importance of workplace learning, which I would like to see more of, building on the work of careers advisers and, in particular, DYW networks in highlighting the range of opportunities available in the senior phase. I assure members that apprenticeships will continue to be front and centre of our work on not only reform but our whole post-school system. I am also keen to explore how, in conjunction with employers, we increase opportunities for work experience to help young people decide on the best career options for them.