Business can knock down the barriers to our children's potential

All in all you're just another brick in the wall

IT is 20 years since Pink Floyd summed up the prevailing view of education so memorably, 20 years which has seen an array of Scottish education ministers coming and going, each armed with their own satchel of new initiatives. But, if the song were re-released now, would we really be able to stand back and say the situation today bears no resemblance to that of 1979?

In some ways things clearly have improved. Participation rates on post-compulsory education are at levels unthought of in the 1970s. Education has climbed the agenda, to a point where "education, education, education" has become one of the most parodied political catchphrases of recent times.

But all is not well. I have followed with interest the debates on Scottish education, not least this paper's excellent series of articles. Two things trouble me. First, are we giving enough attention to the fundamental questions. Why are we educating young people ? What is their education intended to offer them?

And second, where is the voice of business? Most of the debates on education seem to ricochet between politicians, local authorities and teaching unions. But it is business, along with individuals themselves, who will be most affected in the long term by our ability - or lack of it - to shape an education fit for the new Scotland.

A colleague of mine who runs a small business recently told me that the tangible end product of anything between 12 and 18 years of education - ie, qualifications - was used by him as nothing more than a first cut in the recruitment process. After that it was consigned to the bin. He, and many other business people, are really concerned about finding confident, creative employees who carry with them a bag of competences, values and attitudes.

There is no doubt the existing system can develop these qualities in an indirect way, and the new Higher Still system will be a step forward. Equally many of those things will be shaped by factors outside the school gates. I believe business has a vital contribution to make. Business can offer its knowledge and awareness of today's and tomorrow's workplace and how people will prosper within it.

CBI Scotland has put together a taskforce made up of large and small firms in our membership to lead our work in this area. Starting in the New Year, we will be addressing vital but rarely asked questions, such as:

l Why, when Scotland's qualification levels are above the UK average, are its labour productivity levels below?

l Are the large amounts of time and money given by business in education really being used effectively?

l Does the experience of large companies in introducing devolved budgets, target-setting and performance related pay have anything to offer the education system as it grapples with similar changes?

l Does the curriculum encourage young people to see themselves as potential employees rather than potential entrepreneurs?

Nor will we focus just on education. Scottish take up of the Investors in People standard is well below the UK average - we must find out why.

The wall which Pink Floyd sang about all those years ago was a barrier to a strong economy as well as to individual aspirations. It is time business had its say in how we go about dismantling the bricks that are left.

Craig Campbell is Assistant Head of Policy, CBI Scotland

Copyright 1999
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.