Miles Dibsdall: Which would you cut?

Spending cuts are all about priorities and education has come out at the bottom of the pile, says Miles Dibsdall

A 10.4 PER cent cut in budget in one hit is enormous for any institution or organisation to bear and clearly results in hard decisions and job losses. That's the reality we now face at Telford College. But I'm disappointed that a lack of clear information has not helped make the true situation clear. I am, however, very clear: It's "government cuts" not "college cuts".

The Scottish Parliament has reduced our funding, which impacts on both the number of learners and funding per learner. So what does all this mean? More for less? I think so. Fewer places in our colleges? Most definitely. Less money per learner? Absolutely. Will this result in job losses? Sadly, inevitably.

I am disappointed, indeed, baffled as to why further education (FE) colleges were considered to be deserving of such hefty cuts in the budget allocations. It is about choices; such as free prescriptions and free tolls across the Forth versus cuts to education. The reality is FE got the highest cuts, of 10.4 per cent, in the one-year budget settlement by the Scottish Parliament.

A key consideration prior to making cuts should have been recognition of the value of high-performing institutions which provide exceptional training, development opportunities and education for Scotland's communities.

FE has a huge impact on supporting communities and enabling individuals to fulfil their potential. These things matter. We provide the second chances that I feel are essential. Who then benefits? We do as a nation.

Staff are confused, they see the ever-growing number of learners who want to study at colleges, they see the difference FE makes to lives - and then are told of the 10.4 per cent funding cuts. These cuts will have a tremendous impact on the learner and their experience. What will they do? Community cohesion is an essential part of our remit, invest early through FE and future challenges are avoided. Education transforms lives. There is a significant social value to the work of the FE colleges.

We are managing these huge cuts in our funding but we are also working to build new sustainable learning hubs for Scotland. Is it difficult? Of course it is. When was change management ever easy?

We know we need to reform the way we operate and have begun this process, but a reduction of this magnitude has required significant cuts and at speed in order to respond to the new funding levels.

At Telford we realised that we needed to do more with less and began this process last year by removing 7.5 senior posts. We don't have a senior team but a very flat management structure; we are doing more for less.We are a college which takes its responsibilities seriously and have always been known as a college that supports its communities, moving individuals into learning and into jobs.

There are many myths about our funding. However, the reality is that FE colleges have several budgets which are ring-fenced for certain activity; these budgets can't be moved to other areas. Capital money is allocated for "capital purchases" and is not a recurrent revenue stream. We invest huge amounts of capital funding to support the learners' experience and meet their training needs. I am often surprised when criticised about our capital funding spend because it's naive to think this money can be used to save jobs - it can't. It supports the learners, whether it's computers, catering equipment or a renewable energy centre; it's all about ensuring we are training in a 21st-century environment to meet individuals' needs.

This all begs the question: Who is supporting FE? It is often considered the Cinderella of the education system, schools have massive support as do universities, but FE struggles, which I find amazing considering its importance to the economy and the communities it serves.

We are the fifth-largest college in Scotland and no-one from the government has spoken to me about what the cuts will mean to Edinburgh and the areas we serve. However, the local community has shown incredible support and visited the college, eager to be part of the thriving learning environment.

What would be great would be votes of support for FE colleges. "Does FE matter?" is the question. Come to my college and speak to one of my 17,000 learners and you will hear a resounding "Yes".

Vote for FE, you know it matters, don't you?

Miles Dibsdall OBE is principal of Edinburgh's Telford College