Investment in Further Education

That the Parliament notes with concern the reported lack of investment in further education, including in the West of Scotland; understands that Colleges Scotland has estimated a real terms reduction to the Scottish Government’s core budget of £23.9 million in 2022-23 due to inflation, even before rising costs related to increased pay and rising energy costs for Scotland’s colleges are taken into account; further understands that, accounting for COVID-19 consequentials in early 2021 to support deferred students, foundation apprenticeships, mental health and wellbeing initiatives, and the provision of digital equipment for students, which, it believes, has not been continued, the total reduction in the college budget for 2022-23 is estimated at £51.9 million; believes that cuts to funding initiatives will exacerbate inequalities and disproportionately affect poorer students; notes with concern reports that the average expenditure per place for each education level in real terms, in 2019-20, was just over £4,000 per college student, compared to over £8,000 per secondary school pupil, over £7,000 per pre-school pupil, over £6,000 per primary school pupil and just under £6,000 per university student; notes the view that a lack of investment has had a knock on effect to industrial relations, given there have been disputes around pay, conditions, insecure contracts, fire and rehire policies, and discipline and grievance procedures, since 2014; believes that real terms funding reductions mean that college budgets are not keeping pace with staffing costs, and that real terms staff pay is not keeping pace with inflation amidst a cost of living crisis; acknowledges the exceptional role that it considers colleges play in supporting communities, particularly in working class areas; notes the view that further education will need sustainable investment to ensure that society and the wider economy adapts to the challenges posed by the climate emergency and other issues, and notes the calls for the Scottish Government to come forward with a financial rescue package to protect jobs, support students and ensure the long-term sustainability of the sector.