Colleges haven’t been properly scrutinised – until now
Education can sometimes feel like a conveyor belt. Primary, on to secondary and, for the last few decades at least, a push then for university. That’s the path so many school leavers have been encouraged to travel.
But what happens if that lovely, neat academic roadmap is not for you?
Worse still, how does someone re-focus their life and opportunities if they fall off the conveyor belt?
Life is never straightforward, it throws up challenges and obstacles, plans and minds change, and having choices – and being aware of what they are – is vital.
Scotland’s colleges are a rich seam of possibilities, training, opportunities, talent, and chances.
But are they fully understood? Is their role in society given enough value? How are they financed? Do they have the money they need to thrive? Why is there so much industrial unrest over staff pay? Can that ever be resolved? Is there a snobbery over colleges? What are their biggest success stories?
We are stepping off the conveyor belt of live news to investigate this sector, launching our fourth series of the year, The State of Scotland’s Colleges, next week.
We believe the place colleges hold in society is vital, offering training opportunities to Scots of all ages, across a jaw-dropping number of disciplines.
But we are confident the sector has not been investigated, celebrated, or scrutinised, properly – until now.
This has led to a lack of understanding about how it operates, why it matters and why its future is so important.
From Monday, our education writers James Mcenaney and Garrett Stell will bring you a thorough, critical and passionate look at Scotland’s colleges.
They have dug deep into the data, travelled across Scotland to speak to those whose lives have been changed by college education, and sought voices from the industry to offer their take on where things are right now.
Join us on Monday as we explore this incredible sector. Have your say and tell us your experiences.
Thank you for your continued support.