Friday January 28, 10:09 AM
Yahoo! News
The Scotsman
On the eve of a crucial meeting of the Scottish School Boards Association, Mr Galbraith announced a series of measures, including the involvement of parents and church representatives in a working group which will investigate existing curricular advice and materials that can be used in schools.
The plans, while not representing a climbdown by the executive - it still intends to press ahead with the repeal of the Section 28 ban on the promotion of homosexuality in schools - were nevertheless seen as a change of strategy in response to a massive campaign of opposition.
Mr Galbraith yesterday wrote a letter to school boards, directors of education, head teachers and a range of bodies in an attempt to explain his what he termed his "olive branch" proposals.
He promised to involve fully parents and teachers in consultation and gave a firm assurance that the repeal of Section 28 would not come into force until a working group on curricular advice and materials used in schools has concluded its work.
He also made it plain that revised guideline proposals will be put before MSPs before they make a final decision on repealing the clause.
Before the start of the massive campaign of opposition ministers insisted that existing guidelines were sufficient to protect children against exposure to unacceptable material.
At Westminster, ministers yesterday staged an abrupt about-turn over the scrapping of Section 28, confirming that Labour MPs will be ordered to vote for the controversial move. Just two days after No 10 signalled that the Westminster vote to repeal Section 28 south of the Border would not follow a whip, allowing MPs to vote with their conscience, Downing Street revealed that the Prime Minister had decided to instruct his back-benchers to toe the government's line.
Rival parties in Scotland last night welcomed the executive's attempt to calm the storm over Section 28, but accused ministers of incompetence.
The Scottish National Party accused the executive of mishandling the issue but said it appeared it had belatedly listened to criticisms.
The Scottish Tories said the executive could have prevented the "mess" if it had set up a committee to look at the guidelines when the planned repeal was first announced.
Mr Galbraith's letter to all school boards in Scotland and head teachers will be seen as an eleventh-hour attempt to influence today's meeting of the SSBA executive whose members are to consider the future of their campaign which is being financed largely by Brian Souter, the millionaire head of the Stagecoach company.
In the letter, Mr Galbraith refers to the concern among parents and teachers, and he adds: "I hope that by setting out our plans clearly, I can help you to reassure the parents and teachers in your school.
"We believe repeal of Section 2A [the relevant part of the local government act on homosexuality] is about creating a more tolerant Scotland. We believe it will make it easier for teachers and schools to deal with sensitive issues that arise."
And Mr Galbraith stressed: "It will definitely not lead to homosexuality being promoted in our schools".
The package of safeguards will include:
Strong and clear guidance to education authorities. An official circular emphasising the need to consult parents and respond to their concerns will be sent to all education authorities when the section is repealed.
Schools will be required to continue existing practice in consulting parents.
Simple, direct procedures for parents to raise concerns will be introduced. Schools will be expected to respond "sensitively and quickly" if parents are concerned about any aspect of teaching and learning, particularly sex education. Parents will be able to turn to the education authority if that does not happen.
A review of curriculum advice and supporting materials for schools and teachers will take place.
The working group's proposals will be available to MSPs before a final vote is taken on the bill.
The views of parents and schools will be published before MSPs are asked to vote on the proposed repeal.
Mr Galbraith, asked last night if he thought his initiative would take the heat out of the current campaign, said: "We will have to wait and see.
"I am trying to reassure parents, rather than responding to the
campaign."