Student and staff numbers are in decline
Scottish colleges have fewest learners on record
THE number of students studying at Scottish colleges has fallen to the lowest level on record.
Official statistics show 238,399 students enrolled in colleges in 2013-14 compared to 385,620 in 2001-02, when figures were collated for the first time.
The drop of 38 per cent comes at a time when the Scottish Government has prioritised full-time study leading to qualifications at the expense of shorter courses.
The figures from the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) also reveal the extent of cuts to staffing levels in colleges. The number of lecturers in the sector fell by 22 per cent between 2008-09 and 2012-13 from 6,464 to 5,044.
Larry Flanagan, general secretary of the Educational Institute of Scotland teaching union, said the concentration on full-time courses had limited options for many potential students.
He said: “While the Scottish Government’s decision to focus on full-time course provision has some welcome benefits in terms of skills and employability, these figures also highlight the continuing decline of both student and staff numbers in our FE colleges. For many learners, particularly those returning to education after some time away, part-time provision is an essential step to restarting their personal learning journey.
“A significant decline in funding over several successive years has led to staff cuts and a loss of both student places and courses, limiting the options for people of all ages looking to re-enter education for personal or career development.”
Gordon Maloney, president of student body NUS Scotland, also issued a warning over the long-term impact of the strategy.
He said: “While we recognise the focus on full-time courses to improve youth employment, it’s clear that such a strategy runs the risk of excluding those who most need a place. With the economic downturn we’ve been through, it’s important not just to focus on young people, but also those who are returning to education to re-train or upskill and ensuring flexibility for those with additional responsibilities, such as childcare, through part-time places. Such a dramatic drop in the overall headcount could mean that those students are the ones missing out.”
Alison Johnstone, education spokeswoman for the Scottish Greens, said the SNP was failing too many students from poorer backgrounds while Scottish Labour’s education spokesman Iain Gray said the student reduction was “simply not good enough”.
He said: “Part-time courses are needed to help people looking to study while juggling family or work commitments, but there are clearly fewer places.”
However, the Scottish Government said the SFC figures proved its strategy was “paying off”.
As a result of the switch to fulltime courses the average hours of learning per student has increased by four per cent to 392 and there are now 59,507 full-time funded students aged 16 to 24 in colleges, up two per cent on last year and 17 per cent since 2006-07.