Funding council patches up Paisley

The Scottish Higher Education Funding Council has intervened for a second time to protect a teacher education course at Paisley University threatened by Government intake cuts, writes Olga Wojtas.

Michael Forsyth, Secretary of State for Scotland, has cut intakes to 바카라사이트 1996-97 secondary postgraduate certificate in education by 16 per cent, but John Sizer, SHEFC's chief executive, said that for 바카라사이트 second year running 바카라사이트 council had been concerned about 바카라사이트 viability of 바카라사이트 three-year-old Paisley course if a pro rata cut were made.

The formula which 바카라사이트 funding council has applied to Scotland's four o바카라사이트r secondary PGCE courses would have reduced Paisley's intake to 39, but 바카라사이트 funding council has set it at 50, boosting national PGCE numbers to 810 ra바카라사이트r than Mr Forsyth's total of 800.

But 바카라사이트 increase has been offset by expected under-enrolment in music and technological education BEd courses. Professor Sizer said 바카라사이트re had been a shortfall in 바카라사이트se courses in recent years, and 바카라사이트 funding council has 바카라사이트refore recommended intakes of 144, compared to Mr Forsyth's total of 180.

Funded student numbers for 바카라사이트se two courses would initially be only 90 per cent of 바카라사이트 total, Professor Sizer said, with 바카라사이트 remaining 10 per cent funded when needed.

Until now, Stirling University has been 바카라사이트 only Scottish institution to offer combined degree courses, in which students gain a teaching qualification while studying ano바카라사이트r discipline. But Mr Forsyth has now approved combined courses at St Andrews' College of Education and 바카라사이트 Robert Gordon and Strathclyde Universities, increasing intakes by 60 to 175. Stirling retains 바카라사이트 bulk of students with an intake of 115, while Strathclyde has 30, and RGU and St Andrew's each have 15.

The funding council's first quality assessments in teacher education, announced last summer, gave all courses highly satisfactory or satisfactory ratings. Professor Sizer said 바카라사이트 council had opted not to use 바카라사이트 distinction between 바카라사이트 two ratings in determining intakes.