LIB DEMS REVEAL SCOTLAND'S COLLEGES ARE CLOSING THEIR DOORS

Written by Ross Finnie on Thu 28th Jan 2010

The Scottish Liberal Democrats have today published figures showing that many colleges are turning away four times as many applicants as last year.

Reid Kerr College in Paisley turned away approximately 50% of their applicants to full time courses

At First Minister's Questions, Tavish Scott challenged Alex Salmond to make next week's Budget respond to this growing challenge.

Commenting, Ross Finnie MSP for West of Scotland said:

"There has been a dramatic increase this year in the number of people turned away from Scotland's colleges because there aren't enough places.

"Many colleges are turning away four times as many applicants as last year and some colleges have had to reject people for the very first time.

"In Paisley Reid Kerr College was forced to turn away 50% of their applicants to full time courses.

"Young people's career plans are being hit twice. With record unemployment they can't get a job and now they can't get a college place either.

"The Scottish Liberal Democrats raised this with the First Minister as part of our Budget negotiations and our figures today show why action here matters for Paisley and for Scotland."

"Unemployment is still going up in Scotland. The number of young people claiming jobseekers' allowance has gone up 35% in the last year. We are the only part of Britain where the claimant count is still rising.

"Our figures show why action here matters for Scotland."

Ends.

Notes to Editors:

A copy of the Liberal Democrat report is attached.