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The launch of Scotland's reformed post-16 examination system, Higher Still, which has been delayed twice, is under new threat of industrial action.

The Educational Institute of Scotland is to ballot further education lecturers and secondary teachers on boycotting the programme. The union is unhappy about the level of government funding for the changes and the prospective staff workload.

Scottish education minister Helen Liddell (above), who earlier this month released an extra Pounds 24 million to support the changes, said she was disappointed by the union's decision, but pledged that the exams would be launched next August.