Low educational attainment level
Educational qualifications are one of the main ways in which people can gain well-paid employment.
In Scotland, like most countries, higher levels of education usually lead to higher wage levels. As the economy becomes more technologically based, the well-paid jobs in society are increasingly only open to those with relevant skills and good qualifications.
On the other hand, those with few or no educational qualifications or skills often find themselves struggling to access well-paid jobs or employment. According to a UK Government report, university graduates earned 拢10,000 per year more than those who didn鈥檛 go to university in 2018.
What is the Scottish Government doing to address educational attainment level?
Scottish Attainment Challenge (SAC)
In 2015, the Scottish Government launched the Scottish Attainment Challenge (SAC). This was a multi-million-pound initiative designed to help close the gap found between the educational achievements of children in wealthier areas and those in more deprived areas. In 2022, the SAC was refreshed with plans to provide additional funding to 2025-26.
Pupil Equity Fund (PEF)
Within SAC funding are several education support initiatives including the Pupil Equity Fund (PEF). PEF support is designed to ensure pupils from the most deprived backgrounds do not face barriers to their learning because of cost. Across Scotland, PEF has been used to support breakfast clubs, provide money for equipment or allow pupils to attend out-of-school events that would normally cost them to attend.