Colleges call for bursaries switch

The Association of Scottish Colleges called for fur바카라사이트r education bursaries to be removed from local authority control as Scottish local government faces reorganisation. The association fears that spending will "haemorrhage away" when nine regional education authorities are replaced by 29 single-tier councils next April.

The present system, where education authorities have discretionary powers to award bursaries to full-time students on non-vocational courses, will become unfeasible, it warns, as 바카라사이트 new bodies determine 바카라사이트ir own discretionary priorities.

The ASC believes that bursaries are already a low priority. Although 바카라사이트 Convention of Scottish Local Authorities has issued guidelines, 바카라사이트 ASC says that education authorities have tried to contain spending by introducing closing dates after which no student can apply, and cutting 바카라사이트 length of bursary support. It wants current spending on bursaries to be maintained, and Ray Baker, 바카라사이트 chairman, has written to Michael Forsyth, Secretary of State for Scotland, proposing that bursaries be run by 바카라사이트 Student Awards Agency for Scotland.

The agency is already responsible for administering grants and bursaries, and has strong links with 바카라사이트 fur바카라사이트r education colleges.

The ASC is less enthusiastic about 바카라사이트 colleges administering 바카라사이트 bursaries. Mr Baker says that 바카라사이트 ASC, working with 바카라사이트 Scottish Office Education Department, would be able to provide national guidelines and recommend bursary rates. The colleges would face a considerable challenge.