DOLLAR ACADEMY’S launching of a new diploma, in line with current Scottish Higher qualifications, has been hailed by a Mid Scotland MSP.

As reported by the Advertiser, the Futures Institute at Dollar Academy (FIDA) is now providing Scottish school pupils the chance to sit the International Sustainability Diploma.

Initially being trialled at a few select schools including Dollar and Alloa academies before being rolled out across the country, the qualification lets pupils explore an alternative way of learning while sticking to the Scottish Qualification Authority’s guidelines.

The qualification is also being heralded by the University of Stirling, which has played a pivotal role in laying out how the course looks.

Now, Alexander Stewart, Tory MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, has pledged his support to the FIDA qualification, showcasing his long standing praise for Dollar Academy.

He said: “I am delighted at the news of this diploma’s launch by FIDA.

“As a strong supporter of Dollar Academy, I have also supported in parliament this pioneering initiative since it began in 2021, to tackle three fundamental challenges in education.

“[These are] providing equitable access and closing the poverty related attainment gap; finding compelling alternatives to traditional teaching and exam systems – and addressing sustainability.

“Offering real-world challenges in the form of workshops, skills-based courses, design challenges and competitions, I am delighted that more than 600 pupils and 80 teachers from across Scotland, and further afield, have registered on FIDA’s online platform and have benefitted from free access to FIDA resources.

“FIDA’s online content has been viewed over 75,000 times.”

The MSP has also lodged a motion in the Scottish Parliament which brings the work done at Dollar to national recognition.

Mr Stewart added: “I am very pleased also to have lodged a parliamentary motion of support welcoming this diploma and wishing everyone involved – as well as the schools in the pilot including Alloa Academy, in addition to the University of Stirling which has a pivotal role – the very best of luck for their collective success and I am equally delighted that this has received support from across the political spectrum.”