The blanket cancelling of 2020's SQA National 5 exams is wrongful and unjustifiable. A whole cohort of pupils will miss out on the chance to perform on an even playing field with their peers, instead being unfairly judged and given qualifications by teachers who, like everyone else, are human beings and cannot be truly objective. There is no way that the grades pupils will receive will be an accurate reflection of their ability but rather will be a a product of their teachers' opinion of them. As a result, pupils will spend less time learning and more time competing for the special favour of their teachers. This is not a productive learning environment. Furthermore, this decision leaves independent candidates behind yet again. 

The decision of John Swinney must be reversed- cancelling National 5 exams is not the answer. Reduce the content, delay the exams, anything would be better than a blanket cancelling. This is the coward's way out. Now, the 2020 National 5 cohort will have no experience of examinations before sitting their Highers- a vital part of future progression- or other qualifications.  

Holding exams is not an impossible task. Currently, in schools, pupils are sitting less than two metres apart for the whole day- how is holding examinations, where pupils could and would be socially distanced, 'too big a risk'? The irony of John Swinney's words that holding exams would 'not be fair' is laughable. It is clear that those in power have taken the easy route rather than truly making an effort to ensure that Scotland's young people are provided with the valid and credible qualifications that they deserve.