Lecturers angry that funds intended to combat cuts are to be used elsewhere

LECTURERS facing redundancy at one of Scotland's most prestigious universities are furious that money intended to help protect departments from funding cuts is to be used for other purposes.

Edinburgh University is expecting a 366,000 share of 3 million "transition funding" for teacher training faculties across Scotland, after the Scottish Government announced major cuts in teacher training places.

The cut was intended to counter high employment in the profession. However, concern arose that the resulting cuts in funding would force universities to cut staff, hampering future capacity to train teachers.

In response, the Scottish Government promised "transition funding" to prevent education faculties losing their capacity to train teachers. However, a leaked report reveals Edinburgh University plans to use this money for purposes other than teacher training.

The revelation comes after permanent staff at the education faculty, Moray House, were sent a redundancy warning letter.

Tony Axon, of the University and College Union (UCU) for lecturers, said: "We have been asking for this money to be used to make sure we don't lose expertise in initial teacher education because that's what the government has been providing this money for.

"It's a problem of wider concern but is more of an issue at Moray House because the other big initial teacher education (ITE] university is Strathclyde where there has been voluntary severance and a lot of staff cuts already."

The report from Edinburgh University's central management group says: "We would intend to use any transitional funding which we receive from the government/SFC (Scottish Funding Council] to make some investments in the School of Education which will allow it to build up its non-ITE provision."

It adds that the move is necessary to prevent the department being so reliant on fluctuations on the number of teachers the government believes are needed.

A Scottish Government spokesman said it did not comment on leaked documents. However, he added: "As has been made clear to universities, any applications for a share of the 3m fund must clearly outline the use to which the money will be put in relation to maintaining capacity for future years and the implementation of Curriculum for Excellence."

Education secretary Michael Russell has said the money is intended to help universities retain capacity in the system for future years.

A spokesman for Edinburgh University said: "We are finalising proposals to be put to the Scottish Government for the use of the transitional funding which they have made available to us. As those proposals have to be approved by the Scottish Government, it is clear that our use of the transitional funding will be entirely in accordance with the wishes of the Scottish Government."