06 February 2004
The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Scottish Qualifications Authority were in urgent talks this week to try to resolve a dispute over fees that could bring chaos to the examination system.
The SQA has shocked council leaders by demanding a £5m rise in its marking fees – 35% – over the next two years. Cosla has responded by threatening to see whether exams bodies in England would be prepared to mark Scottish pupils' exams.
The funding row comes three years after the agency was at the centre of a crisis over late and inaccurate exam results.
The SQA, forced to introduce costly improvements in its systems, has received almost £50m from the Scottish Executive since 2000. However, it has been told it must now become self-financing.
Cosla education spokesman Ewan Aitken said: 'Councils will not be held to ransom – and will certainly not be used as tool to bail out a quango.'
The SQA said the increase in charges would go some way towards reducing its dependence on government funding.
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