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Part-time Scottish college places cut, say principals | Part-time Scottish college places cut, say principals |
(35 minutes later) | |
Scottish college bosses have warned that places for part-time students have been cut in the wake of staff reductions. | Scottish college bosses have warned that places for part-time students have been cut in the wake of staff reductions. |
Principals from Dumfries and Galloway and Banff and Buchan said there was a focus on providing full-time places. | Principals from Dumfries and Galloway and Banff and Buchan said there was a focus on providing full-time places. |
The National Union of Students said colleges faced a £34.6m funding cut next year. | The National Union of Students said colleges faced a £34.6m funding cut next year. |
The Scottish government said it was maintaining college numbers but insisted cash must be saved. | The Scottish government said it was maintaining college numbers but insisted cash must be saved. |
Dumfries and Galloway College principal Carol Turnbull told Holyrood's education committee her staff numbers were cut by 41 three years ago. | Dumfries and Galloway College principal Carol Turnbull told Holyrood's education committee her staff numbers were cut by 41 three years ago. |
"Because of that, we've then been able to maintain our student numbers within the budgets we've been afforded up until this point," she said. | "Because of that, we've then been able to maintain our student numbers within the budgets we've been afforded up until this point," she said. |
"Where we have had to reduce is in our part-time provision, so the focus and the funding has very much moved from part-time. | "Where we have had to reduce is in our part-time provision, so the focus and the funding has very much moved from part-time. |
"Where we had 8,000 part-time enrolments three or four years ago we're maybe down to around 4,000 in total. We've had to shift our resource to focus on full-time places for young people." | "Where we had 8,000 part-time enrolments three or four years ago we're maybe down to around 4,000 in total. We've had to shift our resource to focus on full-time places for young people." |
Paul Sherrington, principal of Banff and Buchan College, said the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) staff at the institution had dropped from 237 to 220 over the past two years. | Paul Sherrington, principal of Banff and Buchan College, said the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) staff at the institution had dropped from 237 to 220 over the past two years. |
He also said the college was now focusing on full-time places for young people. | He also said the college was now focusing on full-time places for young people. |
"In the past we would have had typically 8,000 enrolments, a significant number would be part-time, now that's fallen to nearer 6,000," Mr Sherrington added. | "In the past we would have had typically 8,000 enrolments, a significant number would be part-time, now that's fallen to nearer 6,000," Mr Sherrington added. |
In a submission to the committee, Edinburgh College principal Mandy Exley warned the pace of cuts to the sector could create a "funding crisis" and staffing problems. | In a submission to the committee, Edinburgh College principal Mandy Exley warned the pace of cuts to the sector could create a "funding crisis" and staffing problems. |
She said that while the college had not cut provision, it had increased class sizes. | She said that while the college had not cut provision, it had increased class sizes. |
Cardonald College principal Susan Walsh said class sizes at her college had also increased, adding: "Like everyone else we have lost staff, all of it through voluntary severance, we lost 50 FTE over the last two years out of 450." | Cardonald College principal Susan Walsh said class sizes at her college had also increased, adding: "Like everyone else we have lost staff, all of it through voluntary severance, we lost 50 FTE over the last two years out of 450." |
The concerns were raised as the education committee scrutinised the government's href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/Bills/56717.aspx" >Post-16 Education Bill, including provisions for college regionalisation, which could see mergers or institutions working together more closely. | |
A Scottish government spokesman said: "We are maintaining college numbers and have a record number of Scots in higher education, expressed as full-time equivalent. | A Scottish government spokesman said: "We are maintaining college numbers and have a record number of Scots in higher education, expressed as full-time equivalent. |
"The Scottish government is committed to a successful college sector but this must include stripping out the duplication and waste which has diverted resources from the direct benefit of young people. | "The Scottish government is committed to a successful college sector but this must include stripping out the duplication and waste which has diverted resources from the direct benefit of young people. |
"College mergers will deliver efficiency savings running to an estimated £50m a year from 2014-15 onwards which will substantially offset the budget reductions we are making." | "College mergers will deliver efficiency savings running to an estimated £50m a year from 2014-15 onwards which will substantially offset the budget reductions we are making." |
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