'Merger Programme Has Not Ended Challenges Facing Colleges' Says Union
The challenges facing Scotland's colleges have not been ended by a controversial merger programme, union leaders have claimed.
The challenges facing Scotland's colleges have not been ended by a controversial merger programme, union leaders have claimed.
The EIS trade union, which represents further education lecturers, said while changes to the way the sector operated were long overdue'' they added that there were stillserious concerns'' regarding the running of some institutions.
The union has written to Education Secretary Angela Constance and has stressed the need for the Scottish Government to be proactive in supporting this vital sector''.
A series of mergers between institutions reduced the number of colleges in Scotland to 20, with reforms also creating new regional boards.
EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan said: Scotland's colleges need to be examples of good governance and transparent financial management.
With the restructuring of the sector and the decision by the Scottish Government to reclassify colleges as public sector institutions - a move that was as welcome as it was overdue - it is essential that colleges commit to operating with a true public service ethos.''
But he said that recent high profile cases had raised serious concerns about the way that some colleges have been run''.
Mr Flanagan said the lengthy'' suspension of the principal of Glasgow Clyde College had beenplayed out in the media through a series of leaks and behind the scenes briefings, with a potentially damaging impact on the reputation of the college''.
Despite this, he said staff there were focused on providing a high-quality learning experience for students'' and added:It is to their credit that lecturers have remained fully focused on their jobs, ensuring that core learning and teaching activity has not been compromised.
The EIS has written to the Cabinet Secretary this week in relation to the Glasgow Clyde situation as we believe a resolution needs to be found urgently.''
Mr Flanagan stated: College boards and principals must be fully accountable for the decisions that they take and for how public funding is spent.
The situation at Clyde College and the fact that this week lecturers at Edinburgh College are embarking on a programme of industrial action in the form of a work-to-contract, in relation to a number of significant grievances with college management, clearly indicate that the challenges within further education have not ended with the regionalisation programme and recent series of college mergers.
The Scottish Government needs to be pro-active in supporting this vital sector of our education system.''
A Scottish Government spokesman said: Our college sector is fully focused on the employability of our young people and therefore Scotland's wider economic growth. The Scottish Government agrees with the EIS that high standards of governance are required: the sector itself has developed a Code of Good Governance and it is a condition of colleges' grant that they comply with it.
The progress made in recent years through reform is largely due to the commitment and professionalism of college staff across Scotland and ministers are grateful to all our college staff for the key role they play in our colleges' success story.''