This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Ten million more for FE colleges
13/06/2002
An additional £10 million to help Scotland's 46 Further
Education colleges purchase the latest equipment was
announced today.
Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Minister Iain Gray MSP
pledged the money at the annual conference of the
Association of Scottish Colleges in St Andrews, Fife.
He said:
"I regard it as vital that Colleges are able to give
students the most realistic experience possible of the jobs
they are training for. If students are to learn the
technical skills to match the realities of the labour
market, colleges need to have the resources to invest in
the often expensive equipment necessary to provide a high
quality learning experience.
"This new £10 million fund adds to the record funding
increases which the college sector is already receiving -
50% more in cash terms over 1998 levels . The fund will
also boost the provision of special equipment for disabled
students.
"In return for the record funding they are receiving,
Colleges have been set demanding targets. They are now
delivering impressive results in terms of attracting people
from disadvantaged backgrounds, modernising their buildings
and facilities and investing in new technologies.
"Our Colleges have a key role to play in promoting our
agenda on skills and inclusion by opening up learning to
everyone. The Executive's objectives of a smart, successful
Scotland and an inclusive and just society go hand in hand.
Scotland may be a small player on the world stage but, with
quality, skills and learning right at the heart of our
policies, we can continue to make a global impact."
The announcement of the new £10 million fund, to be
spent in the current financial year, will provide extra
help to colleges in meeting the cost of particularly
expensive items of teaching equipment necessary to give
students a realistic experience of the jobs they are
training for. The fund will also be available to help
colleges meet the infrastructure implications of special
needs legislation.