Disappointment at Newton STewart campus closure (East Renfrewshire Liberal Democrats)

East Renfrewshire Liberal Democrats <info@eastrenfrewshirelibdems.org.uk>

Disappointment at Newton STewart campus closure

July 15, 2009 3:27 PM
Originally published by Scottish Liberal Democrats

Jim Hume, Liberal Democrat MSP for the South of Scotland, has spoken of his deep disappointment at the news that Dumfries and Galloway College has decided to close its Newton Stewart Centre.

In a letter to the MSP from the College Principal, Tony Jakimciw, it was confirmed that the campus had been running at an unsustainable loss for a number of years.

Jim Hume MSP said:

"Whilst the College would not have taken the decision lightly, this news comes as a bitter blow for young people in Mid Galloway looking to access further education, and that it will mean that the area will find it even more difficult to hold onto its young people in the future.

"Although the College Principal has given me assurances that the newly recruited 20 students will be given assistance to access the same course provision in Stranraer, the long daily commute and the financial implication could be enough to put young people off accessing education and as such I would repeat my concerns about educational facilities for young people in the area.

The MSP continued:

"This worrying development raises the question of levels further and higher education funding, and crucially, why any increase in funding from the Scottish Funding Council has at best been minimal at a time when there needs to be more investment in education."