Carnegie College in Dunfermline is to cut courses because of the funding crisis hitting learning centres throughout the country.
Three courses, including one at HND level, will be axed as the college tries to make savings of around £1.4 million, leaving many students disappointed. However, Carnegie College has stressed it is discussing options with affected students.
The courses that will be cut were due to start in the 2011/12 session. A college spokesman said, “Our college, like every other college across Scotland, has for the last few months been considering the impact of the 10.4% cut, which equates to £1.4 million, it has received in its core funded activities for the session 2011/12.
“Following a curriculum consolidation review it has been decided to remove a number of our computing and furniture restoration courses. We can confirm that for the session 2011/12 the following will be withdrawn from our course portfolio: HNC computing, HND technical support and HND network computing and no new applications are being accepted for these courses.”
He continued, “We are currently discussing options and opportunities with a very small number of students who are part way through a qualification in order to ensure that they can fully complete their course. We can further confirm that the following computing and digital media courses will not be affected by the above decisions: BSc digital media and HND/HNC in computing art and digital media and will continue to be offered as popular and successful courses.”
Principal Professor Bill McIntosh who last week branded the cuts to college funding ‘a recipe for disaster added, “We fully understand that this decision will come as a disappointment to some of our learners. We have not taken these decisions lightly but, given the scale of the cuts that have been imposed, there is the need to balance what we offer against appropriate class sizes and the demand for places across all areas of our portfolio.Unprecedented”We will continue to explore all possible solutions, during what are fairly unprecedented times for all, to ensure that our current learners and the people of Fife are not disadvantaged. In the meantime we would urge anyone considering Carnegie College to apply as early as possible to allow them to secure their place and access the appropriate funding.”
Student Gordon Barlow (17), of Lochgelly, who is studying an HNC in computing, said he was very disappointed by what he described as “major cuts”.
“We should be investing, protecting and sustaining our educational establishments. These cuts will have a detrimental impact on students who want to further their academic studies on to the next level of study,” he said. “It’s deeply unfair that students are being subjected to these cuts especially at a time when unemployment is rising in our communities.”
And Jenna McLinden, president of the college student representative council, said, “Obviously we are disappointed that, following sector-wide budget cuts, the college has been forced to make the tough decision to reduce its provision in these areas.
“As a student body we fully appreciate that the college has worked hard to ensure that the effects of these large-scale cuts have been kept to a minimum. We are grateful that, thanks to careful planning, the courses that have been lost at Carnegie are nowhere near the scale they seem to be in other colleges across Scotland.
“What is more difficult to understand is why the Scottish Government has forced the college into making these decisions at a time when education and skills has such an important role to play,” she added.
“It seems strange that we can have people drawing down dole money rather than allowing them to access the education they need in order to gain the skills for the jobs that currently exist in this region.”