That's all from BBC Holyrood Live on Tuesday 26 November 2019.

Higher Education Minister Richard Lochhead has urged university management and unions to "make every effort to reach a settlement" on pay and pensions.

An eight-day strike affecting 12 Scottish universities began on Monday.

Mr Lochhead said the strikes were "unwelcome news" and both sides must get round the negotiating table to "settle the dispute sooner rather than later".

Members of the University and College Union (UCU) are disputing pay, working conditions and pensions.

Education Secretary John Swinney says Catholic Education Week provides an opportunity to highlight the contribution made by Catholic schools across Scotland.

The Scottish government is committed to tackling inequalities and Catholic schools play a key role in this, he says, highlighting many of them serve Scotland's most deprived communities.

Mr Swinney praises the high quality of education provided in such schools, as well as their support for the Caritas Award.

There is no substance to the suggestion that denominational schools lead to sectarianism, the cabinet secretary states.

The Scottish government supports Catholic schools and is committed to tackle sectarianism he states.

A 2013 report commissioned by the Scottish government said denominational schools were not the cause of sectarianism.

It found that debates about schooling often become "sterile conversations".

The report said: "We do not believe that sectarianism stems from, or is the responsibility of, denominational schooling, or, specifically, Catholic schools, nor that sectarianism would be eradicated by closing such institutions."

The working group behind the report also called on schools to create "imaginative anti-sectarian partnerships".

Back in 2016, a humanist organisation said the role of religion should be removed from the school curriculum.

A report commissioned by the Humanist Society of Scotland (HSS) said the position of religion had weakened in most areas of life.

But it said laws protecting religion in education had, if anything, been strengthened.

A Church of Scotland spokesman said religious groups from all faiths made appropriate contributions to education.

Read more.

Image source, bbc

Liz Smith says Scotland's Catholic schools have yet again shown a strong performance in the Sunday Times publication of comparative results, as they always do.

The Tory MSP explains the Catholic church has over a millennia of experience in education.

She cites the progress of the schools in some of Scotland's most deprived areas.

Ms Smith points out that it's not just a vision and values that are taught, but also a good education.

She calls for MSPs to celebrate the tradition of Catholic schools.

The religious ethos of a school has no impact on tackling the attainment gap between rich and poor pupils, a report concluded in 2017.

The Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR) looked at denominational and non-denominational schools to see if there was a difference in performance.

It said 45.96% of pupils in non-faith schools got three Highers or more compared to 45.37% in faith schools.

It called for reforms to be focused on devolved powers and more collaboration.

Read more.

Ms Smith highlights it is Catholic Education Week 2019, the theme of which is "promoting gospel values".

She highlights 200 Catholic schools were brought into the public sector over 100 years ago.

Despite this, Catholic schools often come under attack "under the guise of ending sectarianism" she says.

This is despite the fact that anti-Catholic attacks make up around half of all hate crimes the Labour MSP states.

Ms Smith says ending sectarianism will not be done by making unwarranted attacks on the institutions of people who are most likely to be victims of it.

Labour MSP Elaine Smith is leading a debate titled "The Positive Contribution of Catholic Schools".

The motion states denominational schools "play a vital role" in delivering education in Scotland and "contribute to an open, tolerant, diverse and inclusive education system".

It also criticises anti-Catholic sentiments.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

The motion lodged by Science Minister Richard Lochhead is backed unanimously by MSPs.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Image source, Edinburgh University

Scottish researchers have received funding to explore what could be a new way of treating Alzheimer's.

The team from the UK Dementia Research Institute at Edinburgh University have received £160,000 from Alzheimer's Research UK.

They want to use the funding to investigate nerve damage caused by Alzheimer's, which causes the symptoms of dementia.

Over 70,000 Scots live with dementia. Alzheimer's causes two thirds of cases.

Read more.

Turning to Brexit, the Lib Dem MSP says there has been no reassurance about Scotland's status in Horizon 2020 after Brexit.

She highlights Scotland has received ‎€233m from Horizon 2020.

But she insists the problem is not just about funding, highlighting some academics are choosing to leave the UK due to Brexit.

Ms Wishart says only 17.3% of entrants to energy and technology courses in higher education were female, while 18.5% of computer science entrants were female.

The Lib Dem MSP states that only 13% of female STEM graduates went on to work in STEM.

A science nation cannot have young women being dissuaded from pursuing a career in science, she warns.

Image source, bbc

Lib Dem MSP Beatrice Wishart reinforces the point that it is not only universities that are driving innovation and science, citing other science centres in Shetland.

Ms Wishart highlights the importance of high speed broadband and warns STEM learning in schools is being hampered by the lack of this.

This cannot be allowed to happen to reach our science nation ambitions, she says.

Image source, Thinkstock

The Labour MSP says the next generation of scientists must be given the knowledge and skills at school.

He expresses concern about the number of subject choices for pupils getting smaller and the squeeze this has on STEM subjects.

With data science and artificial intelligence being fundamental to science, we cannot allow STEM to be lost he argues.

Mr Gray says in some ways we are going backwards in terms of research funding.

That drop amounts to tens of millions of pounds of research and the jobs that go with it too, he says.

He says the research excellence grant has been cut by 12% since 2014/15 and argues there has been a funding increase down south that has not been passed on through Barnett consequentials..

If we are serious about Scotland continuing as a science nation, "we have to put our money where our mouth is" he says.

Mr Gray says the most imminent and urgent challenge to science and research is Brexit.

He highlights much of it is backed by funding from the EU and takes place as part of partnership between EU institutions.

Another threat to our research is the other constitutional issue - that of Scottish independence, the Labour MSP says.

Leaving the UK could jeopardise funding Scottish institutions receive from the UK funding pool he warns.

Image source, bbc

Labour MSP Iain Gray says to call Scotland a science nation seems reasonable enough.

Mr Gray cites Scotland's strong history in science, but that begs the question how are we faring today.

He says the Science Advisory Council shows Scotland's researchers continue to be among the most productive in the world.

Its report shows the high quality of the research, but it also tells us our spend on research in terms of GDP is lower than the rest of the UK.

We will not continue with our status as a science nation unless we determine to do so, he adds.

Image source, UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH

Mr Mundell praises Scotland's academic and research organisations, and he says it is also important to ensure the sustainability of organisations which support turning this research into commercial results.

Many research institutions, such as the Roslin Institute, are making strong contributions to the rural economy in Scotland he tells the chamber.

The Tory MSP says many industries choosing to be based here shows the strength of our science and research.

I see no reason why our success cannot continue for decades to come, he concludes.

Image source, Getty Images

Pupils are being short changed when they are taught together for different qualifications, according to a teachers union.

The SSTA wants to curb the practice of so-called "multi course teaching" in the senior years of secondary school.

It can mean students doing National 4s and 5s are being taught alongside others doing their Highers.

The Scottish government recently announced a review which will look into this.