FLAGSHIP qualifications intended to raise the profile of science and languages in schools are to be extended despite a lack of interest from pupils.
An official review of Scottish Baccalaureates announced last summer by Education Secretary Angela Constance is expected to introduce a new vocational qualification.
The review, set to be published in the coming weeks, comes after a dramatic decline in uptake over the last few years.
Speaking last year Ms Constance said there were "interesting models" in Europe where baccalaureates had a more "professional, technical and vocational focus" adding: "We may need to develop them further to ensure they are attractive to young people."
The Scottish Government introduced the baccalaureates in 2009, claiming they would develop deeper learning and critical thinking skills, as well as promoting important subjects.
Originally developed in languages and sciences, the initiative was expanded in 2012 to include two new baccalaureates in expressive arts and social sciences.
However, figures from the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) showed only three pupils sat a baccalaureate in expressive arts in 2014 compared to five in 2013. There were only 15 entries for the social sciences qualification.
The number of pupils taking a language baccalaureate fell from 32 to 22 over the same period and there was also a drop in those studying the science qualification, from 142 to 136.
Following the decline the Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association (SSTA) said schools had always been unsure of the merit of the qualifications and called for it to be scrapped.
Euan Duncan, president of the SSTA, said it appeared the SQA was no longer actively promoting the qualification on its website.
Jim Thewliss, general secretary of School Leaders Scotland, which represents secondary headteachers, said part of the problem was the fact the qualification had been given little credit by universities adding: "There is no doubt the baccalaureate is faltering and numbers are dropping away."
Alastair Sim, director of Universities Scotland, insisted universities did value the qualification and "the opportunities it provides to study subjects across a particular discipline in depth".
However, he said universities still used the Higher to set entry requirements and some institutions were reluctant to give the qualification too much weight because it was not available to all pupils.
The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) teaching union said that ongoing financial pressures meant schools were already struggling to offer Highers and Advanced Highers in all subjects.
Larry Flanagan, general secretary of the EIS, said: "It simply hasn't been possible to offer equality of access to the programme and, accordingly, it hasn't gained any real purchase in the senior years of secondary school."
Mike Corbett, a national executive member of the NASUWT teaching union, added: "Teachers do not trust the SQA to provide sufficient support. The baccalaureate is a good idea in principle, but there is no chance of it taking off until teachers have more time to devote to its development."
An SQA spokesman said: "We continue to work with schools, colleges and local authorities to promote the enhanced skills that the baccalaureate aims to develop."
A Scottish Government spokesman said: "The baccalaureate has a distinctive place in the qualifications available in Scotland and will continue to be available to pupils. We have been considering how the baccalaureate model can be developed and proposals will be announced in due course."
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