Fiona Watson: TV historian endorses test on Scottish history
A leading historian has welcomed a decision to make questions on Scotland's past compulsory for students sitting the Higher history exam.
Dr Fiona Watson, who presented the BBC TV series In Search of Scotland, said the move would underline the importance of Scottish history.
The exam will contain a mandatory Scottish section from 2010/11.
The decision by the Scottish Qualifications Authority came after a campaign by teachers and academics.
The Higher has always contained optional questions on Scotland's history, but they were often on topics not usually covered in schools, which tended to focus on the later modern period.
The situation was branded a "national disgrace" in 2005 by Professor Tom Devine, Scotland's most prominent modern historian.
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Dr Fiona Watson, who presented the BBC TV series In Search of Scotland, said the move would underline the importance of Scottish history.
The exam will contain a mandatory Scottish section from 2010/11.
The decision by the Scottish Qualifications Authority came after a campaign by teachers and academics.
The Higher has always contained optional questions on Scotland's history, but they were often on topics not usually covered in schools, which tended to focus on the later modern period.
The situation was branded a "national disgrace" in 2005 by Professor Tom Devine, Scotland's most prominent modern historian.