More than 2,000 lobby MSPs on college budget

By LYNSEY BEWS
Published on 14/01/2013 00:00

More than 2,000 voters have written to their MSPs, calling on them to reverse proposed cuts to college budgets.

The National Union of Students (NUS) Scotland campaign has generated almost 16,000 
e-mails to Holyrood’s politicians through its Fund Scotland’s Future website.

Each of the 2,000 students, lecturers and members of the public who have joined the campaign have e-mailed their constituency MSP and seven regional list MSPs urging them to work to secure more money for the sector.

Students’ associations are also seeking commitments from MSPs to make college funding a priority in the upcoming budget negotiations and protect college funding at current levels.

A previous campaign led to an extra £40 million being put back into the budget, the NUS said.

Graeme Kirkpatrick, vice 
president of education, NUS Scotland, said: “It’s great that in just the past month thousands of people in Scotland have contacted their MSPs about reversing the proposed cuts to colleges.

“Over 15,000 e-mails have been sent to MSPs of every party calling on them to make college funding a priority in budget negotiations.

“We now need MSPs to work together to reverse this proposed £34.6m cut.

“Colleges play a huge role in Scotland’s economy, whether it’s by offering young people opportunities to earn new skills, or by giving others the chance to return to education and re-skill. Scotland’s colleges change communities and lives, and must be protected.”

Last week the Scottish Conservatives signed up in support of the NUS campaign.