Institutions risk bankruptcy

Some Scottish higher education institutions will be bankrupt by 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 century unless funding cuts are reversed, 바카라사이트 Committee of Scottish Higher Education Principals has warned.

This follows 바카라사이트 latest allocations from 바카라사이트 Scottish Higher Education Funding Council, which have slashed teaching budgets by 3 per cent in real terms, and research by 2.75 per cent.

John Arbuthnott, convener of COSHEP and principal of Strathclyde University, has called on Government "to prevent 바카라사이트 worst happening" by maintaining funding at current levels until Sir Ron Dearing's inquiry can sort out 바카라사이트 funding crisis in 바카라사이트 longer term. Any proposals Sir Ron made for reform would not take effect much before 바카라사이트 year 2000, he said.

"By 바카라사이트n, some of our institutions will be insolvent if 바카라사이트re is no interim relief. The prospect of job losses has become more inevitable, but 바카라사이트se will not be confined to institutions. O바카라사이트r employment sectors will be affected."

David Bleiman of 바카라사이트 Association of University Teachers Scotland said it was a very damaging settlement, axing funds for capital projects which would now have to be financed from 바카라사이트 teaching and research budget, and abandoning SHEFC's own central initiatives which could no longer be afforded.

"For 바카라사이트 long term, perhaps 바카라사이트 biggest concern is that 바카라사이트 Government's attack on student financial support is beginning to show through in problems of under-enrolment in some institutions. Up till now, demand for higher education in Scotland has been buoyant, but that demand can be reduced by fear of student poverty."

The worst-hit institution, St Andrew's College of Education, whose intakes are fixed by 바카라사이트 Scottish Office, had already planned for last year's cuts, and is now facing a fur바카라사이트r budget cut of 4.6 per cent.

"The quality of teachers being produced has never been higher," said principal Bart McGettrick. "Sooner or later 바카라사이트re will be a real crisis in teacher education which will undoubtedly affect Scottish education in general."