College student numbers at lowest since SNP took power

STUDENT numbers at Scotland’s colleges have plummeted to the lowest level in a decade, figures show.

An annual review by Audit Scotland found there were 220,680 students in 2015/16 – the lowest since the SNP came into power.

The spending watchdog also said colleges’ collective financial deficit had soared to £8million, with them having £11million less cash than in 2014/15.

Scottish Conservative education spokeswoman Liz Smith said: ‘These figures show fewer people are entering college than at any time since the Nationalists came to power and they have to explain why they’ve let this happen.’

As overall demand for college places is still not recorded at national level, it is not possible to say whether this decrease is due to a fall in demand. The review also found while the financial health of colleges remains ‘stable’, it has deteriorated.

Colleges Scotland has estimated that implementing national bargaining to harmonise pay and conditions for all college employees could cost about £80million over three years.

Potential difficulties from falling student numbers coupled with financial challenges mean there is a ‘growing risk’ to colleges’ ability to deliver on key Scottish Government aims for the sector, the Auditor General said.