"Govt to Blame" For Fife College Place Cuts

Fife College is blaming the Scottish Government after it emerged up to 4,000 student places are being lost there next year.

Bosses say reduced funding and the merging of institutions across Fife is having an impact, and that it is part-time places that are being lost.
 
A spokesperson said: “Over recent years Colleges have had their unit price of funding reduced by 20% which has a substantial impact on the way we deliver courses allowing no margin for error. This reduction also means that we are unable to increase the number of places for students as we are not in a position to deliver more for less funding.
 
“The last few years have also seen a time of transition for Fife College as it faced a challenging merger process – inevitably this has had an impact on our targets and what we are able to deliver.
 
“This has also had a serious impact on our already stretched budgets and we are doing all in our power to deliver on target for this academic year.
 
“We are aware that longer term these challenges will have a detrimental effect on our ability to recruit students, however, we are committed to ensuring we maximise opportunities for students throughout Fife and will continue to work with our staff and community partners to make this happen.”

Statistics released to Mid Scotland and Fife Labour MSP Claire Baker has shown that Fife College has to axe thousands of student places for the upcoming academic year.
 
According to the figures, student numbers are set to drop by 3,610 between 2014/15 and 2015/16, with part-time study the worst hit, dropping by 3,638 students. This is almost a third of all part-time students.  
 
Ms Baker said the scale of cuts is "shocking" and "clearly unsustainable in the long run."
 
“We are seeing part-time students, often carers, parents and mature students, facing the brunt of these cuts and this will only end up locking many people in Fife out of further education.
 
“This is the bleak reality of the SNP Government’s cuts to colleges and I will be meeting with the Fife College Principal to discuss how I can support them and potential students.”

The Scottish government says Fife had recruitment issues that saw it lose funding for missing a target, but says it will receive an increase in student support and considerable capital investment.

Fife College is blaming the Scottish Government - after it emerged up to 4 thousand student places are being lost there next year.

'Not an easy start'

A spokesperson said the Government has "a strong track record on colleges" with "significant ongoing investment in the sector and have again exceeded our own commitment to keep full time equivalent college places at 116,000."

They said: "The number of young people and over 25s studying full time has increased and our reforms have also helped colleges deliver record levels of student retention, successful course completion and a 34% increase in students progressing from college to university with advanced standing.
 
“These figures appear to be based on the college’s own planning assumptions, and illustrate an expected increase in full-time equivalent (FTE) numbers for 2015/16.
 
“We know that Fife College hasn’t had the easiest of starts, inheriting recruitment issues in the area that resulted in it not meeting its target on student places in 2013/14. The knock on effect was a small funding reduction for 15-16, but the college will receive an increase in student support and considerable capital investment. We expect Fife College to contribute fully to our success story on colleges in the future.”