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This afternoon, I have sent a letter to @JohnSwinney which has also been cc'd to @SP_EduSkills @SP_EHRiC @CYPCS @sqanews to highlight the work done by young people @SQAOurSay
The breach of #childrights is highlighted and 3 solutions developed by the young people are emphasised:
The breach of #childrights is highlighted and 3 solutions developed by the young people are emphasised:
1. Additional mental health support on and around exam results day 2020
While recognising that @scotgov have placed a great emphasis upon mental health, we urge them to do so from a legally binding children’s rights perspective.
While recognising that @scotgov have placed a great emphasis upon mental health, we urge them to do so from a legally binding children’s rights perspective.
The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child have emphasised the need to recognise that protecting against mental illness requires strong relationships with opportunities for influence and decision making (UN Committee, 2016).
However, in reality the SQA have refused opportunities for influence and decision making.
Articles 3, 12, 15, 24, 28, and 29 were highlighted as negatively impacted by the response to covid in @CYPCS independent CRIA https://cypcs.org.uk/wpcypcs/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/CRIA-appendix-education.pdf
Articles 3, 12, 15, 24, 28, and 29 were highlighted as negatively impacted by the response to covid in @CYPCS independent CRIA https://cypcs.org.uk/wpcypcs/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/CRIA-appendix-education.pdf
It is important, both for the health of our young people and for @scotgov compliance with their legal obligation to provide mental health support for children, that the support be in place now when it is needed the most. Waiting for the return of schools is simply too late.
2. A Children’s Rights Impact Assessment (CRIA) and an independent children’s rights inquiry to be conducted by @CYPCS into SQA alternative grading process.
Under Article 12(2) of the CRC member states are required to ensure there is an independent complaints or appeals process to allow children to challenge any breach of their Article 12 (1) right to express their views to ensure they can participate in decisions which affect them.
There is no independence in the alternative scheme put in place by the SQA so there is no way for children to challenge the decisions taken by teachers who were not able to rely upon work of children already submitted to SQA as the exam board refused to return students’ work.
The group therefore call for the Scottish Government to commission the Children and Young Persons Commissioner for Scotland (CYPCS) to carry out an independent review of the SQA processes and the alternative grade allocation process.
This would help recognise the children’s rights implications and the equality concerns which have been previously mentioned by the Scottish Parliament’s Education and Skills Committee.
3. Young people and children’s rights representative from CYPCS to be given seats on the Education Recovery Group.
Article 12 demands more than simply giving children an opportunity to express their views, instead placing an emphasise upon a ‘dialogue between children and adults’. The CRC makes clear that this applies in a range of matters including in education and schooling.
The seriousness of the current global pandemic means that the need to take account of the opinions of a range of different children is even more important.
While not expecting one child to represent every child in Scotland, it is important that actions taken by the Education Recovery Group are underpinned by children’s rights.
Having children on the recovery group should be a starting point, especially for a country who have declared their intention to fully incorporate the Convention.
The legal obligation to ensure that the rights of children are upheld, including the voices of children being heard, lies with @scotgov The @SP_EduSkills were told that @JohnSwinney was ‘certain’ local dialogue at school level would be occurring.
However, this does not appear to be the case – as outlined in the Education CRIA. The dialogue which these young people have tried to enter with MSPs aims to ensure the rights of children are respected.
They have developed ways in which the Scottish government could make changes to help ensure that they are respecting the rights of children going forward.
All of the areas raised represent areas which the Scottish Government themselves have shown a commitment to more generally.
All of the areas raised represent areas which the Scottish Government themselves have shown a commitment to more generally.
I hope @JohnSwinney and @scotgov will engage meaningfully with these young people to ensure a children's rights response going forward.
Over 100,000 young people are impacted and it is important that they do not become the forgotten victims of Scotland's Covid19 response.
Over 100,000 young people are impacted and it is important that they do not become the forgotten victims of Scotland's Covid19 response.
