The Scottish college sector has said it is “intrinsic” to the government’s ambition to increase inclusive economic growth.
The comment comes after first minister Nicola Sturgeon announced her programme for government today, including plans for more college places in early learning and childcare and expanding Stem hubs to strengthen partnerships between schools, colleges, universities, science centres and employers.
According to Shona Struthers, chief executive of Colleges Scotland, the government’s blueprint has “many touchpoints for colleges”. “We welcome the extension of a further 1,500 college training places to help produce the early learning and childcare workforce expansion, £5.2 million being invested to increase bursaries for care-experienced further and higher education students, as well as £16 million being made available in bursaries to expand and increase support for students from the lowest income families,” she said.
She added that colleges also had significant roles to play in mental illness prevention, signposting and counselling for staff and students, and in making improvements in cyber security for children and young people. “The college sector will also actively engage with stakeholders to capitalise on the opportunity provided by the establishment of a new skills action plan, which has a focus on ensuring a skilled and productive workforce,” said Struthers.
‘More opportunities for training’
The programme for government states: “We know that a professional, dedicated and skilled workforce is essential to our children’s life chances and we will continue to invest and provide more opportunities for training in a range of settings...We will take forward work to increase provision of early years courses in colleges and universities and support vocational training routes, including piloting a new graduate apprenticeship and delivering a 10 per cent year-on-year increase in modern apprenticeships. This year, we expect to see around 1,700 people start on early learning and childcare apprenticeships.”
The government adds that it will work with the Scottish Funding Council to offer over 1,500 additional places on Higher National Certificate courses in this area in colleges in 2018-19, s well as over 400 extra graduate level places.
Ministers also announced plans to improve the gender balance among those participating in Stem learning and training and to expand Stem hubs to strengthen partnerships between schools, colleges, universities, science centres and employers.
‘First steps towards a system of fairness’
NUS Scotland president Liam McCabe said: “The increase in funding for bursaries for care-experienced students and those from the poorest backgrounds is welcome and represents the first steps toward a system of fairness, parity and clarity, as set out in the independent review of student support - but there is much more to do.
“The government must now set out how it will move toward a system where every student receives funding tied to the real living wage as it rises. NUS Scotland has long outlined the dangers of Scotland’s rising levels of student debt and will work to ensure that increased investment is focused on non-repayable bursary.”
