FOR the first time in the SNP's history it is defending nine years of its government's record. However, thanks to the film star treatment given to Nicola Sturgeon, there is very little mention of the party’s record in government.

As a retired teacher I would like to draw attention to that record, particularly in education.

There has been a decline of one-third in nursery teacher numbers, a reneging on the promise of maximum class sizes of 18 in P1-3, a loss of 4,383 teachers in schools, a loss of1 50,000 further education places - mainly part-time for people in work wanting to improve their qualifications - and the pass rate in Higher maths last year of 34 per cent - a Stem subject which the SNP was focusing on.

Between 2007 and 2015 financial support for students has been cut by a third. The number of students receiving grants and bursaries has dropped and there has been an increase in student loans. Indeed, 75 per cent of colleges have run out of cash for vital student support.

From August 30, 2015 a report by an international organisation showed that at age 15 the pupils from the richest backgrounds in Scotland were equal to Hong Kong, one of the world's best in educational attainment, while the pupils from the poorest backgrounds were equal to Turkey, which was 44th in the league.

It is suggested also that the SNP is going to lower the entrance qualifications to universities for pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds. However a recent report stated that there is an eight per cent dropout from universities by the end of the second year, mainly from those universities which attract more students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

In a recent interview Ms Sturgeon staked her reputation on closing the education attainment gap between rich and poor. With the track record of her government that seems to be an unlikely if not an impossible goal.

I would urge people to vote with their heads, not their hearts.

Gordon Taylor,

14 Barra Avenue, Wishaw.

HAS the election come too early? Many people want the SNP's feet held to the fire, and there are the beginnings of a bandwagon of people intending to vote Conservative.

The Labour party is in a death spiral and the Liberal Democrats have unfortunately slipped too far in the polls.

All this could have been different were the elections six months later. More people would realise that the Conservatives are not just Ruth Davidson and actually have an impressive front bench in Scotland that would be formidable opposition, and they will trenchantly oppose any second independence referendum.

The Labour Party could be pulling out of its dive, and the planned SNP cuts, backtracks on fracking and named person, and brutal reorganisation of public services would have played into the Lib Dems,’ hands.

All I can pick out of this is that, for the time being, at least one of my votes on Thursday needs to go to the Conservatives.

Allan Sutherland,

1 Willow Row, Stonehaven.