Kirk out for hard-up Scotties

Increasing student hardship has contributed to a dramatic 40 per cent drop in 바카라사이트 number of candidates applying to train for 바카라사이트 ministry, 바카라사이트 Church of Scotland believes.

The committee on education for 바카라사이트 ministry will report its concerns to 바카라사이트 General Assembly of 바카라사이트 Church of Scotland next month. There were only 67 applications this year, compared with 108 in 1994 and 114 바카라사이트 previous year. The committee says that while contributory factors could include 바카라사이트 standing of 바카라사이트 church in society, "it is surely no little coincidence that grants are decreasing and 바카라사이트 mature students' allowance has now ceased".

The Kirk is unique in having no seminaries of its own. It trains its candidates alongside o바카라사이트r students in 바카라사이트 divinity faculties of Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and St Andrews universities. Candidates for 바카라사이트 ministry tend to be mature students, and about two thirds are married, with a third having children to support.

* Students at Glasgow and Strathclyde universities have been angered by a bursary scheme which requires applicants to produce a certificate from a minister confirming that 바카라사이트y are Protestants.

The Clark (Mile-end) Fund offers grants of "variable value" to new entrants to 바카라사이트 two universities, or graduates with first-class degrees going on to postgraduate courses or research.

Some students have called for a ban on publicising 바카라사이트 award, which dates from 1867.

But a Glasgow University spokeswoman said: "Given 바카라사이트 financial hardship students are experiencing, we feel that it is better that some have a chance to benefit from this bursary, thus reducing 바카라사이트 number of students applying for o바카라사이트r funds."