Would-be students from Fife’s most deprived communities are among those being hit hardest by college cuts, it has been claimed.
Cuts to Fife College’s budget over the past five years has also seen support for many adult evening classes withdrawn.
The price of other courses has risen substantially to cover costs and many potential students are being pushed out.
With further education funding having been cut by £56 million in 2011 and 2012, ministers have called on colleges to give priority to teenage students doing full-time courses that lead to a qualification.
This has meant that part-time, weekend and evening courses have been cut back, and student numbers have fallen by more than half in some colleges.
Thornton woman Helen Paterson, 63, told The Courier cuts to Fife College’s budget are now preventing many adults from accessing evening classes.
She said prices on her jewellery course had more than doubled in a few months, pricing many keen students out of the market.
Three classes of 16 had reduced to one.
She said: “I have been a student at Glenrothes college jewellery evening classes for 16 years. The cost has gone up over the years with the cost of living.
“The term before the summer was £65 for a 12-week term. This term it has shot up to £140 for a 10-week term.
“The Government goes on about lifetime learning but this is far too expensive for the average person.
“There are a lot of pensioners enjoy these classes but can no longer afford to enrol. Like everything else we enjoy it’s far too expensive for the average person.
“There are a lot of very disappointed adults wanting to continue lifetime learning.”
Annan Bisset, 74, of Coaltown of Wemyss, has been forced to abandon the same jewellery class in what would have been his 33rd year. The retired coal board worker is “devastated”.
He said: “I think it’s hellish what’s happened. When Gordon Brown and Blair were head puddocks, they said ‘education, education education’.
“They wanted people to go to classes instead of watching the telly. It was good. A social event where you made friends.”
He added: “Now those opportunities will be lost because it’s just too expensive.”
A Fife College spokesman told The Courier: “We recognise the importance of the provision of evening classes which for many are their first introduction to college and a great way to learn new skills, meet new people and improve confidence.
“In the past these courses have been subsidised by the Government but due to substantial cuts in the college’s budget in the past five years, support for these courses has had to be withdrawn.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Colleges are focusing on courses that deliver the skills and qualifications people need to get a job and develop their careers, in line with the Government’s priority of supporting people into work.
“Our commitment is to maintain full-time equivalent student numbers and colleges have exceeded that commitment this year.”
Picture by George McLuskie