Nothing is free

Sir,

In last week’s Courier William Crossan sang the praises of the Scottish government’s perceived achievements and made reference to the free tertiary education available to Scots.

As everyone knows anything that is free comes at a cost, and the cost is indeed high for Scots in general, and intending Scottish students in particular.

The SNP has already cut more than 150,000 college places to help cover the cost of free university and other college places. In addition they have slashed £40m, around 40 per cent, from student bursaries.

Both of these policies have been a direct attack on students from poorer households and from low income postcode areas. That free education comes at a cost was further revealed last week when UCAS disclosed that the number of Scots who failed to win a place at university had risen from 8,600 in 2006 to more than 16,500 in 2015.

Free education is only affordable because the Scottish government imposes a cap on the number of places available to Scottish and EU students.

Last week Edinburgh University was offering places through clearing on 130 courses for English students but only one for a Scottish student.

Universities strapped for government funding, have to seek alternative income streams, consequently more and more places are made available to English students, and other non EU students. In addition low income earning under graduate courses are being replaced by high income earning masters’ courses aimed at the American and Asian student. With no tuition fees charged to Scottish students it should be easier to attract a greater number of poorer students to Scottish universities than happens in England. Paradoxically this is not the case.

Scotland has the greatest level of educational inequality in the UK.

A recent report shows that 4.3 per cent of Scottish students come from the poorest postcode areas, whilst in England it is more than double at 8.7 per cent, this in a country that charges for tuition.

The opportunities for education should be equitable and fair, sadly this is not the case in Scotland.

Robin Finlay, 7 Glengilp, Ardrishaig