What action is being taken to ensure that the governance of private educational institutions is in accordance with democratic principles.

Scotland has a wide range of education institutions which are either wholly private or which operate with a substantial degree of autonomy and independence.
The Scottish Government has no locus over the governance arrangements of wholly private institutions such as independent schools and private training companies.
Educational institutions which operate with substantial autonomy and independence include colleges of further education and universities. The governance arrangements of incorporated colleges are set out in the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992. In line with the recommendation of the recent Review of Scotland’s Colleges, the Scottish Government has initiated a review of schedule 2 to the 1992 act which will examine the constitution and proceedings of the boards of management of incorporated colleges.
The basis of the governance arrangements which apply to universities varies between institutions.
There are also four publicly-funded colleges which are not incorporated under statute and where the Scottish Government has no locus over governance arrangements. Of these, two fall within the respective responsibility of Orkney Islands Council and Shetland Islands Council. The remaining two colleges are independent charitable trusts over which the Scottish Government again has no locus.
The governing bodies of all publicly-funded colleges and universities are expected to abide by The Good Governance Standard for Public Services in discharging their duties.