Students from Carnegie College in Dunfermline have staged a protest against cuts to some courses.
The college has confirmed it will axe three courses, including one at HND level, in an attempt to make savings of around £1.4 million.
The cuts will take effect from the start of the 2011-12 session but the college has said it is in the process of discussing options for the students who are part way through a qualification to enable them complete their course.
Martin Keatings (25), of Cairneyhill, who is studying HNC computing and has also studied aeronautics and an electrical course at the college’s centre in Rosyth, told The Courier on Tuesday that many back their protest.
“We’ve been positioned directly opposite the college today where cars can see us and have had quite a lot of motorists tooting their horns as they pass us and we have the backing of most of the students at the college they appreciate what we are doing,” he said.
“Scotland pioneered free education but it has not been sustained. The situation we’re now in is like the 1980s. It’s back to the same script, with this UK Government making cuts to the likes of education.
“All the unions, including the student union, need to stand up and say no to this. We are trying to focus on the local issues in education as these cuts have a knock-on effect in terms of trade and industry.”
Martin is also concerned at planned redundancies at Carnegie College, with 18 posts possibly being at risk.
“We’ve heard that there will be 18 voluntary staff redundancies at the college due to the cuts which means that we will be 18 staff short,” he added.
“We’ve been told that the college will not be replacing these staff, which means there will staff shortages, and this is in addition to six staff who were made redundant at our base in Rosyth a couple of years ago. I’m dismayed about this.”
Aillan Gilroy (37), of Halbeath, Dunfermline, who is studying computer arts and digital design, feels people are not being encouraged to take up a college course.
“I’ve worked out that people are £5 per week better off staying on benefits than coming to college,” she said.
“By the time I would have paid back my student loan, this would amount to around £80,000. I wouldn’t be able to afford a mortgage.”
Carnegie College confirmed that the 18 members of staff who have satisfied the criteria for voluntary severance can leave the college.
Professor Bill McIntosh, the outgoing college principal, said, “At the heart of the decision-making process has been our intention to ensure that the quality of the learning experience is central to our thinking in addressing efficiency savings.
“These decisions have not been taken lightly. However, ultimately we have to ensure that as an organisation we become more sustainable and affordable.
“Despite strenuous efforts to manage our resources effectively over recent years, the significant reduction in our funding has ultimately led us to consider a consolidation in our core provision at a time when demand from young people, employers and the community is high.
“As an organisation we fully understand the current constraints on the public purse.”
He added, “However, the scale of these cuts makes no allowance for the increased demand we have for places and comes at a time when we are trying to work with our business partners to stimulate economic recovery for the area.
“I would like to thank the EIS and Unison with whom we have worked closely throughout, for their understanding in what has been a fairly unprecedented situation for all.”
Picture David Wardle.