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| College lecturers to hold protest over 'draconian cuts' | College lecturers to hold protest over 'draconian cuts' |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| College lecturers will hold a protest later to highlight their concerns about further education. | College lecturers will hold a protest later to highlight their concerns about further education. |
| The EIS Further Education Lecturers Association (Eis-Fela) argues the sector has been under attack. | The EIS Further Education Lecturers Association (Eis-Fela) argues the sector has been under attack. |
| Lecturers are calling on the Education Secretary to inject extra cash into Scotland's colleges in the wake of "draconian cuts". | Lecturers are calling on the Education Secretary to inject extra cash into Scotland's colleges in the wake of "draconian cuts". |
| The Scottish government said it had a strong track record on colleges and had provided significant investment. | The Scottish government said it had a strong track record on colleges and had provided significant investment. |
| Colleges Scotland, the body that represents colleges, said it was disappointed over the action. | Colleges Scotland, the body that represents colleges, said it was disappointed over the action. |
| The demonstration comes as the union warned that industrial action over pay could happen in the new year. | The demonstration comes as the union warned that industrial action over pay could happen in the new year. |
| In recent years, the further education sector has been through a huge shake up. | In recent years, the further education sector has been through a huge shake up. |
| Overall budgets are down, the number of part-time students has been cut significantly and colleges have merged into so-called regional supercolleges. | Overall budgets are down, the number of part-time students has been cut significantly and colleges have merged into so-called regional supercolleges. |
| The association is also concerned over high pay offs for some former college principals. | The association is also concerned over high pay offs for some former college principals. |
| The demonstration will take place outside the offices of the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council (SFC) in Edinburgh. | The demonstration will take place outside the offices of the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council (SFC) in Edinburgh. |
| Eis Fela is currently considering industrial action over pay, with members having rejected a 1% offer. | Eis Fela is currently considering industrial action over pay, with members having rejected a 1% offer. |
| The result of an indicative ballot on such action could be revealed on Friday. | The result of an indicative ballot on such action could be revealed on Friday. |
| John Kelly, Eis-Fela President, said: "The main focus of our lobby here today is to highlight the appalling attacks which further education provision in colleges has come under over the past few years. | John Kelly, Eis-Fela President, said: "The main focus of our lobby here today is to highlight the appalling attacks which further education provision in colleges has come under over the past few years. |
| "The SFC has implemented draconian cuts on further education colleges which have been exacerbated further by light touch regulation. | "The SFC has implemented draconian cuts on further education colleges which have been exacerbated further by light touch regulation. |
| "We are calling on (education secretary) Angela Constance to inject more money into the sector, however at the same time we are also urging the SFC to switch off the green light which has been shown to colleges allowing them to spend on a few, at the expense of further education students and staff." | "We are calling on (education secretary) Angela Constance to inject more money into the sector, however at the same time we are also urging the SFC to switch off the green light which has been shown to colleges allowing them to spend on a few, at the expense of further education students and staff." |
| Shona Struthers, chief executive of Colleges Scotland, said: "We hope that no students have been disrupted because of today's unofficial demonstration. | Shona Struthers, chief executive of Colleges Scotland, said: "We hope that no students have been disrupted because of today's unofficial demonstration. |
| "While we recognise that there have been a few legacy issues, they should not detract from the excellent work that colleges do for the benefit of students and the hard work and dedication of staff in colleges." | "While we recognise that there have been a few legacy issues, they should not detract from the excellent work that colleges do for the benefit of students and the hard work and dedication of staff in colleges." |
| Track record | Track record |
| A Scottish government spokesman said: "This government has a strong track record on colleges and recognises that they are vital to Scotland's success. | A Scottish government spokesman said: "This government has a strong track record on colleges and recognises that they are vital to Scotland's success. |
| "We have invested significantly in colleges since 2007 and are providing resource funding of £526m to the sector in 2015-16. | "We have invested significantly in colleges since 2007 and are providing resource funding of £526m to the sector in 2015-16. |
| "The Scottish Government remains committed to national bargaining in our further education sector. | "The Scottish Government remains committed to national bargaining in our further education sector. |
| "However, we recognise that moving towards this approach was always going to be challenging given the level of change required. | "However, we recognise that moving towards this approach was always going to be challenging given the level of change required. |
| "For this reason, we consider this year to be a transitional year where we expect a willingness on both sides to move things forward; not everything can be achieved quickly, or all at once. | "For this reason, we consider this year to be a transitional year where we expect a willingness on both sides to move things forward; not everything can be achieved quickly, or all at once. |
| "We have been clear that the college severance arrangements described in the Auditor General's report were completely unacceptable." | "We have been clear that the college severance arrangements described in the Auditor General's report were completely unacceptable." |
| Mergers and pay rows | |
| Jamie McIvor, BBC Scotland Education correspondent | |
| Mergers in any field can often be difficult - they can lead to job losses and the inevitable challenges of bringing together the culture and practices of different institutions. | |
| These concerns were exacerbated by rows over pay offs for some senior staff. The public spending watchdog raised concerns about the practices followed by some. | |
| At the former Coatbridge College there were claims of collusion though, when questioned by MSPs, the former principal denied any wrongdoing. | |
| Indeed at some colleges, the merger process itself has been difficult. | |
| Read Jamie's analysis here. |