To ask the Scottish Government how it will increase the take-up of modern foreign languages in schools. (S6O-03536)

The Scottish Government is committed to language learning in our schools, which is why, since 2013, we have provided local authorities and third sector partners with funding of more than £50 million to support the implementation of the one-plus-two languages approach. A 2021 survey of local authorities confirmed that pupils across Scotland are now learning languages from primary 1. That is an important change since the policy was introduced 10 years ago.

We continue to promote the uptake of modern languages through the support that is provided to schools by Education Scotland and the funding of the University of Strathclyde, which hosts Scotland’s national centre for languages.

In the long distant past, when I was at secondary school, more than 12,000 of my fellow Scots studied a higher modern language. By 2003, that number had dropped to 8,000 pupils. Ten years later, it was 7,000. Last year, just 5,500 students did a modern language at higher level. That is no coincidence, because we have lost more than 500 language teachers in the past decade.

I studied two languages at higher level, which is a bit of a luxury these days. This is a Government that proclaims to be international and outward looking, so how did we let things get so bad in Scotland?

When the member and I were at school in the dim and distant past, the curriculum required us to study a language up until the end of secondary 4. It was mandated. The challenge that the member puts to me today is about the level of mandating that the Government has in the curriculum. I discussed that with the Education, Children and Young People Committee earlier this year. I will come to the chamber shortly to update Parliament on the Government’s response to the Hayward review.

Let us look at some of the more recent statistics on languages uptake. We have seen entries in the senior phase in national 4 and national 5 increasing between 2022 and 2023, and entries at higher level have remained relatively stable. Entries for the modern languages for life and work award at Scottish credit and qualifications framework levels 3 and 4 have quadrupled since 2013. Across SCQF levels 3 to 7, entries to all languages qualifications increased by 3.4 per cent between 2022 and 2023. There are signs of progress.

I accept the challenge from the member, and I hope that he also accepts that the wider challenge to Scotland’s curriculum is whether we need to go back to a system that mandates languages learning to a certain level.

The opportunity to study and to go on exchanges abroad is an immense benefit to learning a foreign language, no matter when someone is studying that language, whether it is at school, in the past, now or in the future. However, Brexit has robbed many young people of that opportunity, and the Erasmus+ programme has been axed. Meanwhile, Labour and the Conservatives have rejected the European Commission’s proposals that would have made it easier for young people to study in the European Union up to the age of 30.

What steps is the Government taking to support students who wish to undertake study and exchange abroad?

Exposure to native voices and the opportunity to enjoy the cultures of different countries are hugely beneficial for language learners. That is why the United Kingdom’s decision to withdraw from the popular and successful Erasmus+ programme was so self defeating. Its replacement, the Turing scheme, is much less effective because it helps fewer students and does not help staff at all. In addition, it does not enable overseas students to come to Scotland.

In 2023-24, the Government has piloted a re-established scheme to explore the opportunities that Erasmus+ provided us with. Although that project will not be able to deliver the full benefits of the Erasmus+ programme, it will support student and staff exchanges and help to develop stronger partnerships between educational institutions.