Keith Brown MSP, Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Clackmannanshire & Dunblane constituency, has welcomed the announcement of a new Scottish Education Exchange Programme in the First Minister’s Programme for Government as something which will “open countless doors for young people” across his constituency.

The SNP Scottish Government is to launch a new exchange programme which would prioritise placements for disadvantaged young people, following an initial test and learn project this year.

Key voices in the education sector have welcomed the plans.  The Principal of the University of Glasgow, Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli, has welcomed the programme, saying “the return on this investment could be immense” for young people across Scotland.  Shona Struthers, Chief Executive of Colleges Scotland, said, “I welcome these new opportunities for colleges students to learn globally.”

Commenting on the plans, Keith said:

“The new Scottish Education Exchange Programme open doors which could transform the life experience of young people in my Clackmannanshire & Dunblane constituency and across Scotland – doors that were slammed in their face by a UK Tory Government which dragged Scotland out of the EU against our wishes and pulled the Erasmus rug out from under young people’s feet.

“The SNP Scottish Government’s ambition for young people in Scotland is clear, and the First Minister has made it very plain with his Programme for Government that he is committed to ensuring that all students, regardless of their background, have equal opportunities to learn and thrive.

“In the face of a Tory Government at Westminster which continues to deny young people participation in Erasmus+, and a Labour party which refuses to even acknowledge the damage caused by Brexit, the SNP is refusing to allow those opportunities to be taken away.”