EVERY pupil should complete a course of Scottish Studies that is embedded within the curriculum from primary one to secondary school, a Scottish Government think-tank has said.
The Scottish Studies Working Group, set up by the SNP, has called for a new type of qualification to be drawn from a range of subjects including literature, history and language, and sat by every pupil.
Children would work towards the award throughout their time in school instead of it being treated as a separate subject.
The working group, which has been examining ways to get more Scottish input into the curriculum, delivered a series of recommendations.
The call for a new type of qualification will be passed to the Scottish Qualifications Authority to see if it can be made workable. A report is expected back in the summer.
As well as establishing the qualification, the group wants to see Gaelic introduced among the language options children pick at primary school.
They also called for more opportunities to be made available for outdoor learning so that pupils can learn about Scotland's landscape and heritage.
The group's recommendation that the study of at least one Scottish text should be a mandatory part of the Higher English exam has already been taken up by the Scottish Government.
From 2014/15, every candidate will answer at least one question on a Scottish novel, play or poem as part of the shake-up.
The working group warned Scottish Studies should not be "ghettoised" by being treated as a stand-alone subject and that it should be taught alongside other coursework.
The Scottish Government's learning minister Alasdair Allan said: "Learning about Scotland should be a natural and normal part of learning for all our young people. However, it should not be left to chance whether young people have the opportunity to learn about Scotland's rich heritage as well as understanding our place in a rapidly changing world.
"With the group's recommendations is a call for an award in Scottish Studies. The SQA is investigating how this could work and we will continue to work with them and other bodies towards making this happen."
Teachers would be given extra training and helped to implement the recommendations if they are adopted by ministers and added to the curriculum.
Linda Donnelly, a member of the working group and head teacher at Carleton Primary School in Glenrothes, said: "Exploring Scotland's rich cultural diversity and understanding Scotland's role in the wider world are two of the key principles in developing global citizens."
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