MSPs vote to pass controversial tertiary education bill that will change how colleges are funded
MSPs have voted to pass the controversial new tertiary education bill that will change how college courses and apprenticeships are funded
MSPs have voted to pass controversial new legislation that will change how college courses and apprenticeships are funded.
The Tertiary Education and Training Bill changes how the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) provides support.
Brought by Minister for Higher and Further Education Ben Macpherson, the bill has generated criticism at each stage of the process.
Yesterday (Tuesday), Scottish Conservatives said they would not back the bill, despite securing multiple amendments.
Scottish Labour, education unions and Holyrood’s education committee also raised concerns about the proposals.
However, last night parliamentarians voted 75 to 46 to bring the bill into law.
The SFC will become responsible for funding national training programmes and apprenticeships, alongside colleges and universities.
Mr Macpherson said the bill’s aim was to simplify the system and make it more coherent and transparent.
It will establish a new apprenticeship committee and enable ministers to set funding priorities in a new national strategy.
The legislation also makes new provision to promote widening access to higher education.
Alongside the legislation, there will be greater transparency on college and university principals’ pay, and colleges and universities will be expected to adopt more fair work principles.
There will be a review of contribution rates for apprenticeships, and the Bill requires a review of the credit-based funding system for colleges.
Mr Macpherson said: “By moving all the funding for apprenticeships to sit alongside colleges and universities in the SFC, we can streamline structures and decision-making making our system more coherent, and flexible, to adapt to current and future skills needs.
"I want our system to work even better for everyone who – at any age – wants to learn new skills, gain new qualifications, or train for a new role.
"By doing so, we will enable more people to fulfil their potential, provide more security for their households, and contribute more to Scotland’s economy.”
Ahead of the vote, shadow cabinet secretary for education Miles Briggs told The Scotsman his party will not back it.
Mr Briggs said: “Despite amendments I have secured as this bill has progressed, the SNP have still failed to put measures in place to strengthen apprenticeship opportunities and the technical sector and we will vote against it today.
“After almost two decades in power, the SNP’s dismal failure to invest in skills means that Scottish businesses can’t grow, young people are losing out and the economy is lagging behind the rest of the UK.”
One of the aims of the bill was to fold Skills Development Scotland (SDS) into the Scottish Funding Council and give responsibility for further education student support to the Student Awards Agency Scotland.
It sets out what the Scottish Government will provide funding for in relation to work-based training and apprenticeships and how the SFC allocated that funding.
The education committee took the unusual step of not making a recommendation on the legislation, saying it could not support the Bill without a clear idea of the costs of the proposals.
Initial suggestions put costs at between £2.7 million and £30m.
The committee had urged ministers to clarify the cost of transferring staff from the Skills Development Scotland (SDS) pension scheme to the Scottish Funding Council.
The Scottish Government estimated this could cost up to £23 million, but the chief executive for SDS believed the cost could be higher.
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