The Scottish Conservatives have given their support to a campaign urging the SNP to reverse college budget cuts.
The National Union of Students’ Fund Scotland’s Future drive highlights the flaws in the Scottish Government’s proposed £35 million slashing of college budgets next year.
The organisation said the cut would intensify the problems of high youth unemployment and do little to help wider economic recovery.
The Scottish Conservatives have consistently criticised the SNP’s decision to reduce college budgets in Scotland.
Nanette Milne, Scottish Conservative MSP for the North East said:
“We cannot support a policy which is ripping out the heart of the institution which has done so much in recent years to make further education more accessible, more flexible, and aspire to higher standards.
“That is why we are calling for a major re-think by the Scottish Government about its priorities in the education budget.
“The most worrying aspect about college budgets is the fact that the SNP tried disguise the fact that they were going down.
“However, the Audit Scotland Report makes it clear that there is a 24 per cent real terms cut over three years.
“Everyone knows that our colleges play a pivotal role in preparing thousands of people every year for the world of work.
“That is why it is beyond belief that the SNP’s response to this is to slash the college budget even further.
“Given the extent of youth unemployment and the overwhelming need to stimulate jobs in the economy the Scottish Conservatives are pledging to reverse the college budget cuts.”