Student union prepares to fight for future

Student leaders have officially launched a new priority campaign aimed at staving off swingeing cuts to Scotland's colleges.

Launched last month by National Union of Students (NUS) Scotland, the further education focused 'Our Future Our Fight' aims to impel the Scottish Government to reverse funding cuts recently imposed on the sector.

The effort comes as Holyrood slashed the college budget by £74m, a cut which student activists fear will have a deep impact on the standard of education in the Scottish sector, especially a year after the SNP cut 10 per cent from the college budget.

Student figureheads have labelled the newly-launched initiative among the most important NUS has ever coordinated.

Graeme Kirkpatrick, depute president of NUS Scotland, told The Journal: "Our Future Our Fight is the most important campaign NUS has run in years. The cuts from last year had a severe effect.

"Class sizes increased, teaching hours were reduced, there were over a 1,000 job loses across the sector, courses were closed and guidance and counselling services slashed. The SNP's budget proposes a further cut for colleges of over £74 million. The results could be devastating.

"Our Future Our Fight calls for the SNP to guarantee college places, protect teaching quality, local access and find the funds to do it. With Barnet consequentials meaning that as much as £67 million is coming back to the Scottish government its simply imperative that this money is directed to colleges."

This marks the second time in as many years that the student union has worked with colleges across the country to campaign. Last year saw the Scottish Government propose a £1.7m cut to bursaries for college students, though the successful Budget for Bursaries reversed the proposed savings and secured an additional £15m in bursary funding and £8m toward additional places.

A similar online petition to the one being used for Our Future Our Fight was essential as 32,000 emails were sent to MSPs during that campaign.

Robin Parker, president of NUS Scotland, added: "If we are to be successful, we have to come together as a student movement across Scotland and do everything in our power to make sure that vital opportunities to study at local colleges are there for this year and there for many years to come."