Scottish schools struggling to equip science laboratories
A survey by Save British Science has found that children in Scotland are missing science lessons because schools cannot afford to buy the necessary equipment. Almost three quarters (73 per cent) of Scottish schools do not have enough money for larger pieces of laboratory equipment, according to Save British Science (SBS), and 51 per cent are cancelling practical classes because their laboratories are not properly equipped. 'This is a real problem because the Scottish Executive has a strategy of rejuvenating the economy by building a 'Smart Scotland',' said Rosemary Davies from SBS. 'It won't succeed if teachers can't deliver high quality science lessons because they don't have the equipment they need.' 'The survey also found that some 86 per cent of Scottish science teachers are concerned about he way the practical element of science education is examined, believing that students' skills are not being stretched. The survey follows a similar one conducted in England, and shows similar results. SBS will carry out similar surveys in Wales and Northern Ireland in 2005.
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