Scotland’s Colleges and the funding crisis: SNP can’t have it both ways

Speaking ahead of tomorrow's Scottish Conservative debate on Scotland's Colleges, Liz Smith MSP, Scottish Conservative Education Spokesperson, said:

"The Convenor of Scotland's Colleges said last week that it was inconceivable that colleges would be able to absorb more cuts without harm being done to student places, staffing, or to the quality of courses – cuts which could amount to over 20% in real terms assuming that student support is maintained at a flat cash level. In real terms, the further education sector is being asked to cope with current funding cuts of £544m to £435m between 2011-15, whilst it watches the higher education sector get an increase from £926m to £982m.

"So why, has the SNP Government chosen to punish the colleges so hard, particularly at a time when these very same colleges will be integral to their flagship policy of offering opportunities to all 16-19 year olds; at a time when unemployment amongst young people is high; and when businesses across Scotland have heaped praise upon the college sector for its ability to train more students and apprentices in the new skills required for today's fast-changing world?

"It is because of the SNP's persistent refusal to bring in additional sources of private income to higher education, thereby putting additional strain on the whole education budget. And they can't say they don't approve of the principle of asking anyone to pay, just ask any student from the rest of the UK about that.

"Along with many in the university sector and also many public figures like Lord Sutherland or Sir Andrew Cubie, Scottish Conservatives have persistently argued that free higher education is unsustainable, and we maintain that position notwithstanding the claims from the Scottish Government that it will plug the funding gap for the next 3 years.

"But, at what price? The Scottish Government cannot get away from the fact that 1,000 staff have been shed in the further education sector so far this year, that the school-college partnership work has been significantly reduced and, despite claims to the contrary, the number of learners has decreased. The SNP Government cannot have its cake and eat it."

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