National Qualifications can play a significant role in enabling young people to develop the four capacities and the range of skills for life and skills for work they need.
Qualifications should both reflect the learning that has taken place and develop pathways to the next stage of learning and life. Their credibility - to learners, parents, employers, further and higher education providers alike - must be assured.
The qualifications system must, therefore, provide a range of opportunities to meet the needs of all young people and adult learners, whether aspiring to achievements at SCQF level 1 or at SCQF level 7.
The existing national qualifications system is widely respected and has credibility with parents, employers, universities and colleges. However, the current mix of qualifications has come to overlap and this has led to confusion.
That is why Scotland's National Qualifications are being reviewed and the next generation of National Qualifications (to be available from 2012/13) will be designed to ensure they reflect the values, purposes and principles of Curriculum for Excellence and the aspirations of Scotland in the 21st century.
Find us on