Fife students are planning a demonstration in protest at a decision to axe their course.
The group, which has already launched a petition, will declare their objections to the controversial move during action outside Fife College’s Dunfermline campus next month.
It follows a ruling by the college to cancel its full time automotive programmes, which include lessons on vehicle maintenance and body repair and can lead to apprenticeships or full-time work in the industry.
College management has said falling numbers of students applying for the courses and a limited number of employment opportunities locally had led to the decision.
The cost of providing the programmes was also a factor, it said.
Student Dawnah Selfridge, from Glenrothes, launched her online petition against the move earlier this month and has already gained 850 signatures.
The 28-year-old, who is nearing the end of her first year on the three-year course, described the decision as a big blow for the college and the automotive industry.
“Many garages hire apprentices from these programmes,” she said. “I think there are 180 people on each year of the course.
“I know of kids who have left school and signed their leavers’ forms thinking they were getting on this course and now it’s been cancelled.
“What will they do?”
She added: “We’ve been told we can try Perth, Arbroath of Edinburgh if we want to carry on.
“I’ve only looked at Perth so far and their course is full.”
A college spokesperson said the “difficult decision” had been taken after a review of the automotive offering and confirmed there would be no full-time automotive programmes delivered after academic year 2015/16.
“Our last intake of first year modern apprentices will be in 2016/17 with the programmes continuing to run until completion in academic year 2019/20.
“The delivery of these programmes will be centralised in our Stenton campus, Glenrothes.”
She added: “As a regional college, we need to ensure that the courses we deliver meet the needs of students , employers and the local economy, offer a high quality learning experience and provide opportunities for students to progress to employment or further study once they have completed their course.”
