Night classes under threat as colleges told to boost work skills

Published on Sunday 3 May 2009 22:11

EVENING classes are under threat from the recession as colleges are being advised to concentrate their funds on other priorities.

The Scottish Funding Council (SFC), which distributes government cash to colleges and universities, told colleges the money should instead go towards courses which will help economic recovery.

Defenders of the classes argue they are often a key way back into training for many people and serve a valuable role in helping workers learn new skills.

The SFC's main grant letter to Scotland's 43 colleges tells principals the cash they have been allocated for next year should be used to "improve people's employability".

It says: "Colleges are asked to give priority to the rising number of applications for places at college from young people leaving school, or who have recently left school as a result of the economic downturn, where jobs are harder to find, and an increasing demand for longer courses and full-time provision.

"It should not be used for leisure and recreational provision."

However, defenders argued that such classes, covering a variety of subjects from cookery to languages, can be a way back into education for people who missed out on their education previously, and could lead onto retraining for work.

Chief executive of Scotland's Colleges Chris Travis said: "Short courses can be very beneficial, particularly to those who are disengaged or who have been out of the learning environment for some time."

He demanded colleges retain the flexibility to tailor the courses they provide to suit the needs of their communities.

He added: "In these challenging economic times, a balance has to be struck between offering such opportunities and looking at finances available."

A spokesman for the SFC said it was up to individual colleges to make the decision as to where to spend their cash.

He said: "Colleges are able within their activity to design their own courses to meet the needs of their communities.

"We can only guide and advise and say this is where you should be spending."

He said: "We really have to prioritise areas impacting on economic recovery, like employability. Leisure classes are not such a priority as in the past."

A Chinese language school, offered at Stow College in Glasgow on Saturday mornings, was threatened by a withdrawal of funding last month amid issues over whether it was eligible for government funding.

An emergency grant from the SFC saved the school, which said the concern did not relate to the "leisure" nature of the classes.

Rhona Brankin, Labour education spokeswoman was critical of the move.

She said: "Night classes are hugely important and provide people with lifelong learning.

"With the economy as it is, now is not the time to reduce opportunities for people to learn new skills."

The Scottish Government previously courted controversy when education secretary Fiona Hyslop wrote to university principals asking them to focus on government priority areas.

Part of the universities' budget last month was hived off for projects which chime with the government's economic aims.