THE director of Universities Scotland has spoken out on the cancellation of Scottish schools' exams this year, assuring that it is working on a solution to the decision.

Alasdair Sim made the statement following Education Secretary John Swinney's announcement that all NQ and Higher exams in Scotland would not be going ahead due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Alternative certification will be put in place that takes into account coursework and teacher estimates.

Sim said: “The decision to cancel the school exam diet has clearly been incredibly difficult for the Scottish Government and Qualifications body. Universities support the need to put pupil safety and wellbeing first and so we recognise the need for this decision in today’s unprecedented circumstances.

READ MORE: Scottish school exams will not go ahead this year

“Universities will work very closely with the Scottish Qualifications Authority, schools, Government and others to make this work. We want to ensure that even in the extraordinary circumstances of the moment, learners are able to demonstrate their abilities and progress to higher education.

“Scotland’s universities enrol significant numbers of new students from England and Wales every year so yesterday’s announcement from the UK Government’s to cancel school exams in England and Wales will have significant implications for universities here too. We’re working across both Governments to understand the details behind the announcement and come up with a solution that works in these exceptional times.”

Swinney earlier stated: “It is a measure of the gravity of the challenge we now face that the exams will not go ahead this year. With the support of the wider education system, a credible certification model can be put in place in the that can command confidence in the absence of the exam diet – to ensure that young people in our schools and colleges who through no fault of their own are unable to sit exams, are not disadvantaged.”