Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 22 November 2012
22 Nov 2012 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Further Education
I have got to make progress.
The authors of that report highlight the substantial value of the college sector to the Scottish economy, which is potentially up to £1.2 billion over the next eight years. Although they accept that colleges must adapt to meet new challenges and new opportunities, as Jeremy Peat has observed,
“change must not be at the cost of the crucial role the colleges play in providing opportunities to many from diverse parts of society; nor must the critical close relationships with local businesses be placed at risk.”
There is evidence, however, that the way in which the Government is pursuing its reform agenda and targeting spending in a sharply declining budget is having a disproportionate impact on some of the groups to which colleges have been particularly successful in extending access and opportunities. NUS Scotland makes the point that shifts in college participation away from part time to full time, from mature students to young students and from women to men have implications for participation and accessibility. As John Henderson of Scotland’s Colleges has said,
“One of the enormous strengths of the college system is its ability to cater for a diverse range of students at different times in their lives. Any narrowing of that risks limiting the opportunities available.”
Although the Government is right to reflect the specific challenges facing our young people—particularly with youth unemployment currently standing at around 100,000—it is wrong to downplay the importance of ensuring that colleges are able to continue to meet the needs of a wider group of learners.
The cabinet secretary and some of his back benchers have dismissed the reduction in course provision as simply the stripping away of “hobby” courses. That is palpably untrue and again betrays an unwillingness by Mr Russell to face up to the consequences of the decisions and choices that he and his Government have made. I suggest, for example, that the reduction by a quarter in the number of female students studying at colleges in Scotland since 2007 is a statistic that should have Mr Russell asking serious questions about the impact that his approach to college funding and reorganisation is having.
For those from less well-off backgrounds, there must also be concerns at what is happening with the reduced opportunities available. As Murdo Fraser reminded us last week, the proportion of those from the 20 per cent most deprived cohort has fallen from 83.3 per 1,000 in 2007-08 to 72.5 per 1,000 in 2010-11. Again, I see no useful purpose served by the cabinet secretary dismissing that alarming trend, not least given the commitment to extending access that is shared across the Parliament.
For the sake of the choice and quality of the provision on offer to students, the opportunities available to the wide range of individuals that colleges have been so good at supporting, the connections that local businesses have with colleges in their area and the morale of staff who work in this critical sector—for all those reasons—I believe that the education secretary must look again at the approach that he is taking to funding, to reform and to the relationship that he has with those in the sector. If that does not happen as a matter of urgency, confidence in the SNP Government and in this education secretary will continue to erode, potentially to the point of no return.
I have pleasure in moving amendment S4M-04914.1, to leave out from “their substantial commitment” to end and insert:
“that colleges are vital in providing educational opportunities for individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and circumstances; is concerned that the Scottish Government’s planned cut to college budgets in 2013-14 puts at risk efforts both to widen access and to ensure the quality of course provision; believes that, while regionalisation has the potential to increase collaboration and deliver benefits for colleges, students and employers, these outcomes will only be achieved if restructuring is driven by educational need and at an appropriate pace; further believes that confidence in the Scottish Government, not least within the sector, has been shaken by the failure of ministers to demonstrate a grasp of the allocated budget and their heavy-handed treatment of college staff and governors, and believes that confidence can only be restored if the Scottish Government takes urgent steps to change its approach to the sector, including giving an urgent indication that it will revise its 2013-14 draft budget to prevent a cut to college funding and agree that it will set out clearly the costs and benefits of reform to the college sector as recommended by Audit Scotland.”
14:56
The authors of that report highlight the substantial value of the college sector to the Scottish economy, which is potentially up to £1.2 billion over the next eight years. Although they accept that colleges must adapt to meet new challenges and new opportunities, as Jeremy Peat has observed,
“change must not be at the cost of the crucial role the colleges play in providing opportunities to many from diverse parts of society; nor must the critical close relationships with local businesses be placed at risk.”
There is evidence, however, that the way in which the Government is pursuing its reform agenda and targeting spending in a sharply declining budget is having a disproportionate impact on some of the groups to which colleges have been particularly successful in extending access and opportunities. NUS Scotland makes the point that shifts in college participation away from part time to full time, from mature students to young students and from women to men have implications for participation and accessibility. As John Henderson of Scotland’s Colleges has said,
“One of the enormous strengths of the college system is its ability to cater for a diverse range of students at different times in their lives. Any narrowing of that risks limiting the opportunities available.”
Although the Government is right to reflect the specific challenges facing our young people—particularly with youth unemployment currently standing at around 100,000—it is wrong to downplay the importance of ensuring that colleges are able to continue to meet the needs of a wider group of learners.
The cabinet secretary and some of his back benchers have dismissed the reduction in course provision as simply the stripping away of “hobby” courses. That is palpably untrue and again betrays an unwillingness by Mr Russell to face up to the consequences of the decisions and choices that he and his Government have made. I suggest, for example, that the reduction by a quarter in the number of female students studying at colleges in Scotland since 2007 is a statistic that should have Mr Russell asking serious questions about the impact that his approach to college funding and reorganisation is having.
For those from less well-off backgrounds, there must also be concerns at what is happening with the reduced opportunities available. As Murdo Fraser reminded us last week, the proportion of those from the 20 per cent most deprived cohort has fallen from 83.3 per 1,000 in 2007-08 to 72.5 per 1,000 in 2010-11. Again, I see no useful purpose served by the cabinet secretary dismissing that alarming trend, not least given the commitment to extending access that is shared across the Parliament.
For the sake of the choice and quality of the provision on offer to students, the opportunities available to the wide range of individuals that colleges have been so good at supporting, the connections that local businesses have with colleges in their area and the morale of staff who work in this critical sector—for all those reasons—I believe that the education secretary must look again at the approach that he is taking to funding, to reform and to the relationship that he has with those in the sector. If that does not happen as a matter of urgency, confidence in the SNP Government and in this education secretary will continue to erode, potentially to the point of no return.
I have pleasure in moving amendment S4M-04914.1, to leave out from “their substantial commitment” to end and insert:
“that colleges are vital in providing educational opportunities for individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and circumstances; is concerned that the Scottish Government’s planned cut to college budgets in 2013-14 puts at risk efforts both to widen access and to ensure the quality of course provision; believes that, while regionalisation has the potential to increase collaboration and deliver benefits for colleges, students and employers, these outcomes will only be achieved if restructuring is driven by educational need and at an appropriate pace; further believes that confidence in the Scottish Government, not least within the sector, has been shaken by the failure of ministers to demonstrate a grasp of the allocated budget and their heavy-handed treatment of college staff and governors, and believes that confidence can only be restored if the Scottish Government takes urgent steps to change its approach to the sector, including giving an urgent indication that it will revise its 2013-14 draft budget to prevent a cut to college funding and agree that it will set out clearly the costs and benefits of reform to the college sector as recommended by Audit Scotland.”
14:56
References in this contribution
Motions, questions or amendments mentioned by their reference code.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick)
NPA
The first item of business is a debate on motion S4M-04914, in the name of Michael Russell, on further education. Cabinet secretary, you have 14 minutes. 14:30
The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning (Michael Russell)
SNP
On Tuesday, I apologised to the chamber for the answer that I gave to Mr Malik on 28 June. I repeat that apology now. The mistake should not have happened an...
Willie Rennie (Mid Scotland and Fife) (LD)
LD
Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention?
Michael Russell
SNP
Could I just make a little bit of progress?I want to encourage a genuine dialogue that seeks to intensify our national focus on meeting the genuine needs of ...
Willie Rennie
LD
I agree with Mr Russell whole-heartedly about moving forward on the challenges that face the colleges but after all the events of recent weeks, does he belie...
Michael Russell
SNP
I do, and I shall explain that in my speech. I thank the member for his intervention.In having the type of debate that we have to have, we must start by reco...
Gavin Brown (Lothian) (Con)
Con
Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention?
Michael Russell
SNP
Can I just make some progress, please? I have a lot to say and I will bring the member in.Yes, funding is tight and decisions are hard, so how we react to th...
Tavish Scott (Shetland Islands) (LD)
LD
On the cabinet secretary’s point about the wider view, given that he now admits that his budget was cut in last year’s negotiations with his Cabinet colleagu...
Michael Russell
SNP
The strategy, as ever, is to continue to deliver for the young people of Scotland; that is my focus, and it will continue to be my focus.Within that context,...
Gavin Brown
Con
The cabinet secretary said that he has found an extra £17 million for the 2013-14 budget. If the 2012-13 budget was £546 million, as he claims, and the draft...
Michael Russell
SNP
I think that I have laid out those figures to the best of my ability—Interruption.
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Order.
Michael Russell
SNP
As I said, I laid out those figures to the best of my ability. Answers were given to members by the First Minister today, and I am endeavouring to ensure tha...
Neil Findlay (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
Can the cabinet secretary cast his mind back and point to a year during the period when Labour was in power when we had such a crisis in our colleges?
Michael Russell
SNP
It is sometimes hard to remember, because there were so many crises under Labour. I point out that reform is essential. I would have thought, given the fondn...
Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention?
Michael Russell
SNP
No, I am sorry. I must make some progress.The colleges have achieved what they have—and I pay tribute to them—because, as the Auditor General for Scotland’s ...
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD)
LD
It seems that barely a day goes by without there being apologies offered to the chamber or attempts made to surreptitiously amend the Official Report, so in ...
Margo MacDonald (Lothian) (Ind)
Ind
Will the member give way?
Liam McArthur
LD
I certainly will.
Margo MacDonald
Ind
I am not going to apologise for anything. The member has just said that additional money is needed for teaching. I agree, but where will it come from?
Liam McArthur
LD
I rather expected that question from the SNP back benches, but nevertheless it is clear that after the budget last year, £250 million-worth of announcements ...
The Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth (John Swinney)
SNP
He gives no answer.
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Order.
Liam McArthur
LD
Nevertheless, the results of the Government’s spending are choices that it has made. The risk of the shambles of the last few days and weeks is that it distr...
Jamie Hepburn (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP)
SNP
I wonder whether he is one of the college principals who are so terrified by the cabinet secretary that they are afraid to speak out against the Government.
Liam McArthur
LD
Given that he is the chair and not the principal, I suspect that his job is not on the line in quite the same way.That is not a healthy relationship or one t...
Mark McDonald (North East Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Liam McArthur
LD
I have got to make progress.The authors of that report highlight the substantial value of the college sector to the Scottish economy, which is potentially up...