News / Independence of college under threat
COUNCILLORS in Shetland have vowed to fight tooth and nail to keep the independence of its further education college.
Under Scottish government plans, local colleges such as Shetland College would become part of a “multi-college region” and would be governed by a regional board answerable to the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI).
The Shetland College board would be reduced in its functions to operational only and chaired by the college principal, rather than an elected councillor.
During a meeting of Shetland Islands Council on Wednesday members expressed their “serious reservations” about the proposals, despite assurances from a government civil servant that Shetland College would not be affected by the move.
They agreed to make the strongest representations possible and called for education minister Mike Russell to come to Shetland before his already scheduled visit at the end of August.
Chairman of the board of Shetland College, Drew Ratter, said it was unclear what the ramifications of the ‘Regionalisation of the FE sector in the Highlands and Islands’ proposals would be.
He added: “These are one of these centralisation grabs that have been coming from Holyrood since 1999.”
Former Shetland College principal and now elected member for Shetland South, George Smith, said the move was an attempt by the UHI to also get control over the further education sector.
“I would be extremely cautious about the advice we have had from the civil servant. I would take no comfort from that,” he said.
In a report before councillors, Shetland College principal Professor David Gray said: “If these proposed changes are put in place by the government the result will be that Shetland, as a community, will no longer have control over the strategic direction of its college or its curriculum offer.
“Levels of funding will be decided at a regional level by people who have little or no understanding of the challenges facing island communities.
“The local board will be chaired by the principal and will be focussed solely on operational issues. Any future principal of Shetland College will be appointed by the regional board.”
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