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Recent education news has me thinking that decision-makers could use a refresher course in two core skills that my teachers always stressed to students in school: don’t be afraid to ask questions and always show your work.

This Wednesday, I watched one of the wildest committee sessions I have seen in a while. Representatives from Dundee University appeared before Holyrood’s education committee to answer questions about how the university’s finances got so out of hand that it needed a £22 million cash infusion from the Scottish Government just to keep the lights on long enough to roll out a recovery plan that could cut 632 jobs.

We’ve covered the hours of testimony extensively already, and it is fair to say the reactions from MSPs on the committee ranged from flummoxed to outraged.

“How could this happen?” was a common question lobbed at the panel, but a more telling question that came up repeatedly was, “Why didn’t you ask questions about this?”

© Herald Scotland