Education secretary John Swinney defended the Scottish Government’s efforts at improving education but admitted average “was not good enough” during questioning at Holyrood.
Mr Swinney was responding to questions in the chamber in the wake of the publication of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) results which showed standards in science and maths had fallen.
He accused the Scottish Conservatives of “talking Scottish education down” after they pointed out results had fallen under the SNP.
Compared to the rest of the world, Scotland’s results in maths and science among 15-to-16-year-old’s was “average” to the OECD, but in reality had slipped on comparable results in 2016.
The deputy first minister, parachuted to the Scottish Government’s education secretary role following years as economy secretary, pointed out the standards in reading had improved since 2016.
PISA results in maths have dropped every year since 2006 in Scotland and are now “significantly” behind England and Northern Ireland.
Scottish Conservative’s deputy leader and North East MSP Liam Kerr said: “Our PISA results show Scotland at a record low.
“It is an appalling indictment of this government’s mismanagement and a shameful legacy to bequeath our children. Does the cabinet secretary have any idea how to arrest this slide?”
Mr Swinney responded: “Liam Kerr could have said Scotland’s reading score had improved significantly, but he indulges in the perpetual anti-education agenda of the Scottish Consevatives, which is all about talking down Scottish education.
“They took a hammering (in last week’s election) and were sent homeward to think again. Scottish education is improving, while the Scottish Conservatives are going downhill fast.”
Mr Swinney had earlier said: “Our progress in science and maths in 2018 is showing at the average. The results are stable but stable is not good enough.
“We have measures we have put in place to drive up standards across Scotland and in particular to reduce the poverty related attainment gap.”
Mr Kerr said following the debate: “This unbecoming behaviour and unparliamentary language is becoming more prevalent as things go on under the SNP.
“Mr Swinney had no answer, no idea and no plan, and plainly doesn’t realise what his administration is doing to our young people’s education.
“Even when there was no possible way to blame Westminster, he still tried. The SNP are looking and sounding tired in government and are spending their time getting angry at impartial data.”
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon denied maths and science were being “left behind” following the publication of the results earlier this month.
Pisa 2018 figures show Scotland achieved a mean score of 504 for reading, up from 493 in 2015; 489 for maths, down from 491 in 2015; and 490 for science, down from 497 in 2015.
With the rise in performance for reading, Scotland returns to a similar level recorded in 2012, when it was 506.
In maths, performance dropped on the 491 figure in 2015 and is at its lowest level, having fallen in every Pisa survey since a high of 524 in 2003.
In science, Scotland’s level of performance has also continued to fall over the last decade, with a score of 497 in 2015 and 515 in 2006.
