Scottish colleges face funding shortfall of £2.8m

Colleges are getting less than half the money they need to support students through the rest of the academic year, according to newly released figures.

The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) was asked for £5.5 million to help fund bursaries and childcare costs, but could only boost the available cash by £2.7m. The National Union of Students Scotland said the resulting £2.8m shortfall for the rest of 2011-12 was “extremely worrying”.

It said the funding shortfall could mean thousands of college students would not receive the financial help they need this year. Robin Parker, president of NUS Scotland, said: “This means thousands of college students may not get the financial help they need.”

Labour’s further education spokeswoman, Claire Baker, said: “We want to see an overhaul of the system with the introduction of a new College Maintenance Allowance that would put an end to the annual saga and all the heartache that goes with it.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie added: “College principals are already speaking out about the difficult financial circumstances they face, even before the Scottish Government’s £40m cut has been to their made to the budget. That cut is only going to put more places and teaching posts at risk.”