Funding body to crack down on class dodgers

Students who consistently fail to attend classes could stand to lose individual funding support under a new recording system introduced by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS).

The Attendance Data Record Project, which is this year being implemented by the funding body for the first time, is aimed at reducing wasteful spend by ensuring students failing to turn up to classes see their awards withheld.

Existing arrangements see around 30 per cent of students slip through the attendance process, with individual colleges and universities now tasked with submitting accurate attendance on a regular basis that SAAS can then monitor.

Measures are in place to ensure students do not lose necessary support as a result of legitimate absences. Only where the student is expected but fails to attend on a consistent basis will a loss of funding occur, leaving those with genuine reasons such as illness and with pre-authorisation unaffected.

Asked to comment on the changes, John Spencer, Convener of Scotland's Colleges' Principals' Convention, said, "Scotland's Colleges will carefully consider any changes that are made by SAAS and the possible effects this may have on student funding and course attendance."