College cuts criticised by election candidates
Falkirk’s Scottish Labour candidates Siobhan Paterson and Paul Godzik have highlighted concern from the college sector, and called for a new direction for Further Education, with colleges like Falkirk put at the heart of our community.
After visiting the Falkirk Campus Siobhan and Paul criticised the SNP’s cuts to college funding and staff.
Colleges have faced significant funding cuts over recent years, with Colleges Scotland estimating that college budgets have now been cut by around a fifth since 2021/22 alone. Since 2007, the number of staff in further education and colleges in Scotland has plummeted by 27 per cent – a fall of 4,500 staff.
Angela Cox, chair of College Scotland’s College Principals’ Group, warned Holyrood’s Education Committee that colleges were “hanging on by our fingernails”.Similarly, Audit Scotland recently sounded the alarm about the “huge challenges” facing colleges and criticised a lack of clarity and leadership from the SNP.
These cuts appear to have taken a toll on students, with the most recent figures showing a fall in both the number of students going to college and the number completing their courses.
Scottish Labour candidate for Falkirk East, Cllr Siobhan Paterson, said: “Scotland’s colleges cannot afford a third decade of SNP neglect. Funding has been cut, student numbers are down, and less students are gaining the qualifications they need.The SNP’s failure to support colleges is robbing young people in Falkirk of opportunities and holding our local economy back.
“With the energy transition underway, and the effect this has on facilities like Grangemouth, the need to ensure access to new skills and training is vital. Our local college must be at the heart of this change.”
Paul Godzik, a former Convenor of Education at City of Edinburgh Council, added: “Forth Valley College have done significant work in upgrading buildings and providing a fantastic environment for students. But that good work is being hampered by government decisions on funding, with less staff, low morale and repeated industrial action over recent years.
“Our college in Falkirk has the facilities, but it needs the commitment and support of a Labour Scottish Government. It’s time for a new direction and an education system that provides opportunity for every young person.”
Scottish Labour Education spokesperson Pam Duncan-Glancy MSP said: “Over the last two decades the SNP has treated further education with disdain and hollowed out these important institutions.Scottish Labour will empower colleges to be anchors in their communities and engines of opportunity and growth.”