80,000 students write to Scottish Government in protest over college funding cuts

By CHRIS MARSHALL
Published on Wednesday 8 February 2012 13:15

MORE than 80,000 e-mails have been sent to MSPs calling for a reversal in the Scottish Government’s decision to cut funding for those studying at the country’s colleges.

The campaign by the National Union of Students (NUS) is aimed at convincing ministers to change their minds over a proposed £11 million cut to student support.

Over 10,000 students have signed up to the campaign, each sending an e-mail to their constituency MSP and seven list MSPs.

Robin Parker, president of NUS Scotland, said: “Students across the country have put in countless hours meeting MSPs, holding rallies and signing people up to the Our Future Our Fight campaign, to make sure that the voice of college students is heard loud and clear. This is an unbelievable achievement and reflects the strength of feeling on this subject across Scotland.

“With college bursary budgets already overstretched this year, the Scottish Government is planning to spend £11m less on support for the poorest students next year. That’s money that ensures students can afford to stay in education, rather than add to the already too high numbers of youth in the dole queue.”

Last week, the Scottish Funding Council, which hands out money to colleges and universities on behalf of the Scottish Government, announced that no college would see its overall teaching budget cut by more than 8.5 per cent. The body also confirmed that overall student numbers would be maintained.

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8

Vote 'NO'

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 12:35 AM

They are 5 years too late - remember the scrapping the debt, turning grants into loans and free pencil sharpeners? Well, the first 2. The clouds appear to have lifted from their eyes - a hangover must last longer nowadays - but the SNP promise to clear £14,000 debt, but nothing of the sort happened rightly left Scotland's students red faced with fury - and big debt.

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Kinghob

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 10:10 PM

From the Scotsman today: "Today Mr Swinney pledged an extra £11.4 million for student support, together with a further £8 million to the Scottish Funding Council to go to colleges in the coming year. He said that, combined with £20 million of new investment already announced for colleges, showed the Government’s commitment to the sector."

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Tartancult

Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 06:54 PM

#5 Interesting about the cover up by the government on the lockerbie case. Why is the Hootsman not allowing comment from the bloggers on this extremly important issue ????????????????"--------------------------------------I agree that discussion of this matter would be (potentially) pertinent and enlightening but the problem is that the people who know absolutely NOTHING about this matter are the ones who would be posting and the discussion would quickly descend into the usual willy-waving and foamy-mouthed accusations of political bias until finally, the words numpty, bampot, eejit and similar would be in every post.

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Bunker

Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 06:00 PM

Interesting about the cover up by the government on the lockerbie case. Why is the Hootsman not allowing comment from the bloggers on this extremly important issue ????????????????

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4

Irritatingly Intelligent Chauvinist

Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 05:32 PM

So that will be an end to courses such as advanced daisy chain making and the like.

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3

andy1874

Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 04:22 PM

If they put on the letter "we will vote for the status quo if you don,t change these cuts"the SNP would find the cash .

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2

davidjames

Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 04:18 PM

Free tuition = Funding cuts.

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Family guy

Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 02:37 PM

80,000 students write to Scottish Government in protest over college funding cuts---------------------------------------------------------------------no problem. The Scottish Government will charge Scottish students fees to cover the cuts.

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