College course cuts exposed

took voluntary redundancy in 2011/12, while 51 were forced out by compulsory redundancy.

The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) teaching union, made the FOI request. David Belsey, its national officer for further and higher education, said the responses clearly showed the adverse effects of the 10.4% cut.

He said: “A number of additional colleges implied that their student teaching hours were at a minimum. The 38 colleges which responded also stated they had made hundreds of staff redundant and the EIS is gravely concerned the continued exodus of academic staff from colleges is having a detrimental effect on the quality of student learning.”

Funding fell by £69 million in 2010/11, from £678m to £609m.

John Henderson, chairman of Scotland’s Colleges, which represents college principals, said institutions were working hard to maintain activity levels – but warned further cuts were likely.

A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: “From 2007 until the end of the spending review period we will have invested £4.7 billion in colleges, 40% more than in 1999-2007.

“Our commitment to young people is unwavering and that is why we recently announced an additional £40m for colleges, including £13.1m for maintaining student places.”

The Scottish Government has made a commitment to give colleges enough funding to maintain student places in 2012/13.