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MSPs debate Post-16 university and college reforms MSPs back principle of Post-16 education reforms
(about 17 hours later)
MSPs are due to debate controversial Scottish government plans to change the way colleges and universities are run. Controversial Scottish government plans to change the way colleges and universities are run have been backed in principle by parliament.
The proposals, from Education Secretary Michael Russell, have been described as a "dog's breakfast" by opposition parties. Ministers said the reforms would widen access to education, but opposition politicians branded them "a dog's breakfast".
Mr Russell has insisted there is broad support for the bill's aims which include widening access to university. Labour challenged the government to withdraw its Post-16 Education (Scotland) Bill.
Holyrood's education committee has backed the general principles of the bill but called for greater clarity. Education Secretary Michael Russell said the legislation was essential.
The Scottish government said the aim of the proposed reforms was to make post-16 year education more responsive to the learner and employers. He called on other parties to work with the government to take the reforms forward.
There are six key areas of the Post-16 Education (Scotland) Bill including: The government hopes to make post-16 year education more responsive to the learner and employers.
But many of those who work in the education sector have questioned whether a change in the law is actually needed. The bill concentrates on:
Labour, the Tories and the Lib Dems have said the plan for reform is deeply flawed and have combined to call for the legislation to be delayed while questions are answered. Speaking in the Scottish Parliament, Mr Russell said: "The clear message I am hearing from learners, staff and institutions is that the principles and policy objectives identified are the right ones."
Labour's Neil Findlay, deputy convener of the Scottish Parliament's education committee, has previously described the bill as "a real dog's breakfast". The Scottish Parliament's education committee, which scrutinised the bill, backed its general principles but called for greater clarity.
Mr Russell said all parties should work together to develop the bill as it goes through its parliamentary process. Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats said the planned reforms were deeply flawed.
Despite the concerns, MSPs are expected to back the bill in principle - the legislation still has to get through two further stages of parliamentary scrutiny before becoming law. Labour's Neil Findlay, deputy convener of the Scottish Parliament's education committee, who previously described the bill as "a real dog's breakfast", said: "While the aims of the bill we would largely agree with, the bill itself is badly drafted, ill-defined, clumsy and a confused piece of legislation."
Liz Smith, the Tory education spokeswoman, added: "It is a bad bill, not just because of its poor drafting but it is a bad bill because of the complete lack of clarity of the relationships of the new structures, particularly in the college sector."
Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur questioned the need for legislation and said college regionalisation was already well under way, adding: "It is difficult to see why, then, Mr Russell feels the need to give the college sector such a significant statutory kick up the backside."
Robin Parker, president of National Union of Students Scotland, said he supported the principles of the bill, but said an assurance was needed that the focus on widening access continued for many years into the future.
He added that, as it stood, the legislation allowed Scottish universities to charge students from the rest of the UK £36,000 for a degree in Scotland, which was "far more than even what we've seen in England".
MSPs voted for the Post-16 Education Bill at its first stage by 64 votes to 54, with three abstentions.
The legislation still has to get through two further stages of parliamentary scrutiny before becoming law.