Warning over student places

Monday, April 19, 2010

If they aren't dropping out of education, Scotland's students are expected to be turned away in record numbers due to a lack of funds, it has been revealed.

Official figures have shown the dropout rate among students at Scottish universities is higher than the UK average.

Of the 29,625 degree entrants into Scotland's universities last year, 9.9 per cent had dropped out by the end of their first year, according to the figures published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). The UK average was 8.6 per cent.

The HESA figures also suggested pupils from state schools are less likely to get into university in Scotland – 86.7 per cent compared with 88.5 per cent across the UK.

And according to the figures Scotland has a poor record on widening access with 28.2 per cent of entrants in 2008/09 coming from lower socio-economic groups compared with a UK average of 33.2 per cent.

The news comes as the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) announced Scotland's 43 colleges are to share in a £690m funding pot. According to the SFC the £83.9m for student support includes a £5m increase for student bursaries, which follows an above inflation increase of £4m last year and brings the total increase over three years to £11.7m.

The overall investment by SFC for academic year 2010-11 also includes £109m for the modernisation and maintenance of college buildings. Scotland's rural colleges will also receive their share of a £1m new strategic grant line to allow them to help small businesses dealing with challenging economic circumstances.

College principals have, however, said that when taking inflation into account the total budget is a "real terms" cut and warn that record numbers of students could be turned away as a result.

Convener of Scotland's Colleges' Principals' Convention, Linda McTavish said: "In these difficult economic times, this is a tough budget for Scottish colleges. Scotland's colleges are recognised by Ministers as being vital and central to our economic and social recovery; it is disappointing that the Scottish Funding Council has not given the college sector the same priority.

"Colleges will continue to play a role in developing skills and working with communities affected by the recession, however, this announcement will mean that colleges throughout Scotland will have to turn away more students than ever before."

She added that some colleges are concerned about the "apparent decision" to withdraw funding from More Choices, More Chances, which supports young people not in education, employment or training.

But SFC has said an added £15.3m, from SFC and European Social Fund, will be used to provide additional student places at colleges and that funding for "core activities" has been protected.

SFC chief executive, Mark Batho said: "In this challenging economic climate, the Council has given priority to maintaining core funding for teaching and student support to allow Scotland's colleges to continue to provide learning opportunities, develop skills and support communities across Scotland.

"The funding made available from the Scottish Government has allowed us to again increase our support funding to help students gain access to and, importantly, remain in college courses. That will benefit students themselves and will support the major contribution which colleges are making to Scotland's future economic prosperity."