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Parents in Oban have hit out after upset pupils failed to get their exam results delivered this week.
Tuesday’s big day was marred for some after results failed to land on local doormats – leaving youngsters upset, parents said.
Many pupils received results by text or email at 8am- which they had to register for in advance with the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), which is responsible for certification and distribution to the postal services.
The Oban Times has received messages from those who had been relying on results delivered through the door.
One parent said pupils in Oban and the surrounding area did not get their SQA National Five and Highers delivered on results day as promised.
They claimed this was ‘due to staff shortages at the Post Office’, with a ‘decision made just to leave these out’.
But when this was put to the Post Office, it said: ‘We believe this to be a Royal Mail issue,’ and referred media inquiries to the company which is in charge of delivery.
The Royal Mail, however, has yet to respond to requests to comment and parents, too, have complained of having had ‘no response’ from the company about what happened.
One parent told the Oban Times: ‘I have had no response from Royal Mail and lots of children in areas all around Oban haven’t had their postal results.
‘They should have been delivered 1st class mail on August 4 – not good for Oban Royal Mail. I know posties are doing a great job but the results should have been a priority.’
Since the pandemic this year, The Royal Mail has reported ‘increased levels’ of employee absence. It has also told customers this week there remains ‘varying levels of disruption due to coronavirus-related absences at local mail centres or delivery offices’.
It said: ‘We’re sorry about this. Every item of mail is important to us, so we’re working hard to keep any delays to a minimum.’
The SQA, the Scottish Qualifications Authority, said it had worked with the postal services for a number of years to ensure that results were delivered first class on August 4.
However, it said once the certificates had left the organisation, it was ‘very much’ in the hands of the postal services, and that there could be a ‘number of reasons’ that results did not arrive when expected.
A spokesman said there had been a greater uptake this year in pupil signing up for and activating a ‘MySQA account,’ which delivered results by text or email from 8am.
Oban High School said in order to receive results electronically, pupils had to register, otherwise their results would be sent by post.
To register for a MySQA account go to https://www.mysqa.org.uk/cs8/content/secure/my_homepage.jsp
