Colleges turn thousands of hopefuls away

COLLEGES are turning away thousands of youngsters because of a "dramatic increase" in applications during the recession, new figures have revealed. Scottish Lib Dem leader Tavish Scott is now calling on the Scottish Government to use next week's Budget to increase the number of college places.

The Lib Dems contacted each of Scotland's 43 colleges to ask about take-up of their places. Edinburgh's Stevenson College turned away 1,326 students in 2009-10, compared with 323 the previous year. Oatridge College in West Lothian, which has previously never refused admission, saw a 74 per cent increase in applications and was forced to turn away 300 people in 2009-10.

West Lothian College had a 41 per cent increase in applications.

Mr Scott said: "So many young peoples' career paths have been dashed. They're being hit twice. They can't get a job with record unemployment and now they can't get a college place."