THE Scottish Qualifications Authority has sacked an information technology consultant employed to overhaul its computer system after a newspaper quoted him as having told friends the organisation was facing an even worse exams crisis this year than last.

School exams start next month and there are fears there will be a repeat of last year's problems with inaccurate and missing data in candidates' results.

A spokesman for the SQA said it had terminated the three-month contract of David Ashton following "comments attributed to Mr Ashton which constitute a clear breach of contractual obligations to the organisation".

A newspaper report claimed Mr Ashton said the SQA's computer was inefficient, still not working properly, and some software had still to be tested properly.

The SQA denied the alleged claims.

An SQA spokesman said: "The comments attributed to him are at odds with the progress being made within the organisation."

- April 4

The Herald

From the GICC Archives:

Scotland: Warning of exams fiasco repeat

Scotland: Exam fiasco is Scots' Black Wednesday

Scotland Update: 18,000 FOUL-UPS IN EXAM FIASCO

Scotland: EXAM CHAOS SPREADS TO STANDARDS

Scotland: Exam system fails again on paperwork

Scotland: I PASSED EXAM I NEVER TOOK

Scotland: Pupils left waiting for exam results

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2001