Scottish Liberal Democrat Education spokesperson Liam McArthur MSP has urged the Education Secretary to go further and fill the whole college funding gap, hit by swingeing SNP cuts.

Liam McArthur MSPHis calls come after the Education Secretary bowed to pressure and announced today that colleges in Scotland would be given £15 million to help them adapt for the future.

The Scottish Liberal Democrats have launched a campaign to reverse the cut to college funding in Scotland, after the Scottish Government announced that the college budget would be slashed by £40 million next year alone.

The Scottish Government has received an unexpected £67 million in consequentials from the UK Government and Scottish Liberal Democrats have urged the Scottish Government to use that money to fill the funding gap and protect Scotland’s colleges.

Commenting Mr McArthur said:

“The Education Secretary told the Education Committee in October that there would be no money to help colleges cope with the hugely disruptive merger process that he is pushing forward.

“However, thanks to pressure from a wide variety of sources, we appear to have a partial climb down today. This money will go in some way to help this vital sector, badly hit by the SNP’s swingeing cuts but it still doesn’t go far enough.

“Over recent weeks, the First Minister and Michael Russell have ducked and dived on the issue of college funding. It is now time to end the uncertainty and address the massive shortfall in college budgets through the consequentials that are available to them.

“Colleges are key to helping young Scots get the opportunities they deserve, to gain the skills to get up and get on in life.

“The college sector and young people need a clear sign from this government that it is valued and not expendable.”