COLLEGE BOSS IN £3m CASH PLEA
Holyrood cash grab would hit city’s deprived learners
AGLASGOW college boss is urging the Scottish Government to let it keep a multi-million pound windfall so it can help fund education in deprived areas of the city.
THE Scottish Government is accused of “clawing away” millions of pounds from a college in Glasgow.
Kelvin College sold the former Stow College building in Cowcaddens to Glasgow School of Art for £6million, which it hoped to use to invest in further education for students from some of the most deprived areas of Glasgow.
However, management has been told that it can only keep half of the cash and £3m will be returned to the Scottish Government.
In a letter to the College Board, the Scottish Government said: “Since the proceeds result from a sale of a public asset, Scottish Ministers must consider how the balance of proceeds can be used to meet the needs of the physical estate of Scotland’s Colleges.”
The letter states that before the power to “require the college to return a portion of the £6m proceeds,” the government is requesting the views of the college on the matter.
College bosses have written to the Scottish Government with its reasons why it should keep the total cash raised from the sale.
The college board has told the government that it would use the cash to invest in “quality equipment and facilities”.
It highlights the deprivation in the communities where many of the college students are from.
It states 78% of college learners are Glaswegian, 37% are from the 5% most deprived areas and half are from the 10 most deprived areas.
Alan Sherry, Kelvin College Prin- cipal, wrote: “The college contends that retention of the remaining £3m for investment in equipment and facilities will have a positive impact on learners from the poorest communities in the city.”
Frank McAveety, leader of Glasgow City Council, said the Scottish Government was imposing yet another funding cut on Glasgow.
He said: “The SNP pretend that education is its defining mission.
“We know instead all they obsess about is independence with our schools, universities and our colleges being neglected. This is also another attack on Glasgow and follows on from the £53m cut to the city’s budget.
“At a time when we should be investing in Glasgow’s colleges the SNP is attempting to strip money away.
“This £3m is essential to ensure people can acquire the skills and experience they need to get on in life and, as Glasgow Kelvin College themselves point out, it is even more essential at a time of funding cuts by the SNP.
“Kelvin College does fantastic work for our city but it needs support, not an SNP government clawing money away at any available opportunity.
“The SNP must now stop this charade and ensure the money for the college, goes to the college.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We have already agreed to £3m of proceeds being retained by Kelvin College to support its most pressing estates requirements.
“We are currently consulting with the College on how to best utilise the remaining £3m from the sale of the former Stow College building.”