Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop was urged to apologise for “misleading” voters last night after the government suffered a parliamentary defeat on its school building programme.
Opposition MSPs joined forces to reject claims that the government had overseen the construction of 236 schools since coming to power in 2007 – surpassing the previous administration’s record of 205.
The Labour motion stated that most schools built over the last two years have been “legacy” projects started under the previous administration.
It stated the government had “fallen short” of its pledge to match the last regime’s school building programme and was passed 58-48 with 15 abstentions.
Labour education spokeswoman Rhona Brankin said: “This is a personal humiliation for Fiona Hyslop. The Scottish Parliament has tonight rejected her handling of school building in Scotland and she needs to admit that she is failing Scotland’s pupils, parents and teachers.”
During a debate on the issue yesterday morning, Ms Brankin criticised the government’s Scottish Future’s Trust, aimed at phasing out PPP/PFI as a funding mechanism for public buildings like schools and hospitals.
The Scottish Government announced last month that 14 schools would be built as part of a £1.25billion investment programme.
Mearns Academy at Laurencekirk, Ellon Academy and Brechin High School are being replaced.
Highland Council will be given funding to cover two-thirds of the costs of either replacing or upgrading Wick High School – and Harris Academy in Dundee will be refurbished. The schools will not open before 2013.
Ms Hyslop told MSPs yesterday that 236 schools had been delivered by the SNP since it came to office, benefiting over 100,000 pupils.
“We will spend an average of £700million a year on schools over the lifetime of this parliament, in comparison with £585million over the previous seven financial years spent by the last administration,” she said.
The Conservatives said the funding mechanism used by the Scottish Futures Trust was too restrictive.
Party schools spokeswoman Liz Smith said the education budget must be looked at to ensure money was spent in the best way possible.
Liberal Democrat education spokeswoman Margaret Smith accused the government of double standards for branding private schemes “morally wrong” while taking credit for their completion.