Funding hold-ups upset Scottish colleges

THE GOVERNMENT has not gone far enough in supporting further education colleges and students through ongoing problems of delayed student awards, the Association of Scottish Colleges has said. It believes the Student Awards Agency for Scotland, which blames the late payments on computer problems, is still 12 weeks behind schedule in issuing grant cheques.

It also complains that while the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council has been allowed to double its normal October payment to institutions, further education colleges must individually seek extra funds from the Scottish Office to make up the shortfall in tuition fees or help ease student hardship.