NICOLA Sturgeon has dismissed claims Scotland's exam system is in chaos after Labour highlighted a fall in the number of pupils gaining qualifications in languages.
Scottish Labour's deputy leader, Kezia Dugdale, said the number of pupils passing courses in French, German and Chinese fell by 40 per cent in the first year of the new National exam.
She also highlighted a 20 per cent fall in the number passing Gaelic exams.
The figures were based on a study by educationalist Dr James Scott that was undertaken on behalf of the Scottish Government.
Ms Dugdale cited the figures a week after raising concerns about a Higher Maths exam which thousands of students found impossible to answer.
Speaking at First Minister's Questions, said called on the First Minister to "take her head out of the sand and clean up this mess".
She added: "Teachers and head teachers have warned ministers of chaos with the new exams, I have repeatedly raised problems with the new exams.
"Thousands of pupils have signed a petition telling ministers there is a problem with the new exams."
She said the EIS teaching union, meeting in Perth for its annual general meeting, was considering a boycott of the new exams.
Ms Sturgeon said she would "look very carefully" at the report on languages in schools.
She added: "As First Minister, as leader of this government, we will continue to focus on making sure that we have an education system that is providing the education, the skills and the training that our young people need.
"We will not be diverted from that objective, that is our responsibility."
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