Scotland’s education secretary has rubbished claims Angus College will lose 2,000 student places due to funding cuts.
Michael Russell insisted allegations by principal John Burt were ”not true” as he gave evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s education committee on Tuesday.
Mr Burt caused controversy earlier this month when he predicted 400 full-time places and 1,600 part-time places at the college would be lost as the budget was slashed.
”To be blunt, Angus College cannot know that,” said Mr Russell. ”I know the assertion was made in a letter to (Labour MSP) Richard Baker, but that doesn’t make it any more true.
”The reality is you cannot make those assertions until there has been a discussion with the funding council and ourselves about the regional model of provision. That is the fact.”
His comments come amid controversy over the impact the Scottish Government’s draft budget will have on college places.
The SNP had pledged to protect places prior to the Holyrood election in May.
Mr Russell admitted the Scottish Government wanted to ”force the pace” of mergers between institutions and said a new consultation will be issued next month.
Dundee-based MSP Jenny Marra asked whether the Government would consider diverting more money to the sector to meet the SNP’s ”manifesto commitment to no compulsory redundancies.”
Mr Russell said he would like to see a no compulsory redundancy policy in colleges, but said the SNP manifesto pledge did not extend to colleges as he ”cannot tell colleges what to do.”
”Why can’t I tell them what to do? Because a previous Labour minister, Allan Wilson, took away my power of direction,” he said.
He added: ”On the other hand, when I talk about the ability to be more directive in higher and further education, among the first people to attack me for that is one Jenny Marra.”
Despite Mr Russell’s comments, Mr Burt stood by his original claim, telling The Courier: ”I wrote to all MSPs on this matter with the hope that once they understood the impact of such national decisions that they may seek amendments to the draft budget in favour of the college sector.
”Angus College will continue to ensure our current students have the best possible experience, but we also have to model in more detail the impact of any further cuts in conjunction with all our partners.”
NUS Scotland president Robin Parker demanded Mr Russell provide more clarity on the issue of student places.
”Students across Scotland welcomed this government’s commitment to maintaining college places, but now this commitment is mired in confusion,” he said. ”The SNP made this personal pledge when they were looking for students’ votes and they can’t back out of it now.”