Fears over teachers swinging students’ vote in referendum

Concerns have been raised that politically-minded secondary school teachers could influence the way youngsters vote in the independence referendum.

Opposition MSPs have called for the introduction of staff guidelines to ensure lessons on constitutional issues are taught in a non-partisan way.

The call, backed by Scotland’s biggest teachers’ union the EIS, was made on Wednesday after it became increasingly clear that 16 and 17-year-olds will be allowed to vote in the historic poll in 2014.

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