Global Education in Scotland

The following report is to bring information to regarding Scotland which is part of the United

Kingdom (UK). As one of the first countries to sign up for the Global Education Initiative

proposed by the UN in 2000, Scotland continues to progress on every aspect of the six Education

for All targets. Coughlan, S. () states that “The UK is the most successful country in the world

regarding the six Education for All targets, according to Unesco”. The six targets are to expand

early childhood care and education, universal primary education, equal access to learning, adult

illiteracy cut by 50%, gender parity and improve the quality of education. There are three

priorities in the initiative. The first is to put every child in school. The second is to improve the

quality of learning. The third is to foster global citizenship.

To see the progress that Scotland has had with putting every child in school, we need to look at

the statistics. The following is the progress that Scotland has had over a seven-year period

starting in 2012. In 2012, Scotland had 2,064 primary schools in place (Summary statistics for

schools in Scotland no. 9, 2018). In 2015 when the Universal Primary Education goal was to

have been reached, the number or primary schools in Scotland was 2,039 (Summary statistics for

schools in Scotland no. 9, 2018). As of 2018, there were 2,012 primary schools (Summary

statistics for schools in Scotland no. 9, 2018). In Seven years, Scotland had decreased its number

of primary schools by 52. Although there were fewer schools, the number of students increased.

In 2012, there were 370,680 students enrolled in primary school (Summary statistics for schools

in Scotland no. 9, 2018). In 2015, there were 391,148 students (Summary statistics for schools
in Scotland no. 9, 2018). In 2018, 400,276 students were enrolled in primary schools (Summary

statistics for schools in Scotland no. 9, 2018). There was an increase of 29,596 students since

2012.

Scotland provides Sustainable Development Education in Environmental Education. One way to

provide environmental education is through Eco-Schools. Eco-schools are an additional means

in which Scotland fosters global citizenship. Internationally funded Eco-Schools are worldwide

in 67 countries hosting 19.5 million children (Eco-Schools., n.d.). Eco-Schools are an

underpinning to becoming a global citizen. Eco-Schools have been around for 25 years. These

schools help develop skills for success.

This map shows the locations of Eco-Schools throughout Scotland.

https://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/sustainable-development-education/eco-schools/schools-map/

There are many factors that lead to the decrease in the enrollment and completion of primary

education. For females, pregnancies, distance and location, societal standards and confidence
were the main barriers. For males, poor scores, rural culture and location were barriers. Cultural

inclusion was lacking in schools creating a disease and lack of desire to attend. When joining the

Universal Primary Education incentive, the UK looked at causes for the non-completion of

primary education among students. It was identified that girls did better than boys in reading.

To close this gap, the UK implemented the Gender Agenda project. Educators were provided

with tools to participate and engage in the program. According to Education for all 2005-2012

(2015), “Key features of such schools included the use of speaking and listening in lessons to

prepare pupils for writing and exploring texts, modeling of both reading and writing to improve

pupils’ understanding and skills, the use of ICT to engage pupils, and individual help for

preparing for tests” (p. 201). This program was highly affective. In a 10-week study of the

program consisting of 34,000 students of which 1 175% males. According to Premier League

Reading Starts (adapted by Education for all 2000-2015, 2015) “56% of the pupils made half a

year’s progress in reading and 17% made a year’s progress” (p. 201).

This graph on p. 199 of the EFA Global Monitoring Report 2015 shows the gap between boys

and girls in their reading scores. The boys in blue and girls in pink signifies that boys have lower

scores than girls in the UK.

https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000261593

This map shows the plight of gender equality amongst Europe. As shown, the UK is currently
promoting gender equality in education in attempt to gain gender equality. There are a few
countries that already promote gender equality such as Italy.

https://www.west-info.eu/the-school-and-the-gender-gap/gender-differences-in-education/
Scotland is prepared for the challenge to meet the challenges that are implemented in the 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Works Cited

Coughlan, S. (2015, April 9). World fails to reach millennium education targets. Retrieved from

https://www.bbc.com/news/education-32194962.

Eco-Schools. (n.d.). Retrieved November 13, 2019, from

https://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/sustainable-development-education/eco-schools/

Education for all 2000-2015: achievements and challenges. (2015). doi: UNESDOC Digital

Library retrieved November 13, 2019, from

https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000232205

Summary statistics for schools in Scotland no. 9: 2018 edition. (2018, December 11). Retrieved

November 13, 2019, from https://www.gov.scot/publications/summary-statistics-schools-

scotland-9-2018/pages/2/.