A Scottish Conservative government would reverse the SNP's crippling cuts to Scotland's colleges, Jamie Greene, local Conservative candidate, has announced.
He said that his party will dedicate an extra £60m to the country's 27 Further Education Colleges to help them reinstate the 140,000 places which have disappeared since the SNP came to power in 2007.
The announcement comes as figures show that the number of students at Scottish Colleges is now the lowest on record and staffing numbers have also fallen by a fifth since 2008.
Jamie said "Kids growing up in North Ayrshire need a variety of options open to them upon leaving school. Be it university, college, or vocational training or apprenticeships. The SNP are focussed on funding its free higher education policy at the expense of those who prefer vocational courses than going down the academic route. I went to James Watt College in Greenock and the variety of courses available helped many of my peers achieve real life skills that led to real jobs. Not everyone wants to go to University."
He added "The Scottish Conservatives have consistently opposed the cuts to colleges and are today showing how those cuts can be reversed. The cost would be met in its entirety by the party's existing commitment to a graduate contribution – payable only after graduates are in a good job – which would be used specifically to help fund new College places. We don’t make empty promises, it is important to be sensible and transparent about how to fund things, the hallmarks of a credible policy."
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson added with
"The SNP's appalling treatment of Scotland's colleges over the last five years has been this government's hidden shame. It has built monuments to itself on so-called free education, while quietly demolishing the ladder of opportunity that our colleges provide to thousands of youngsters. We reject the discrimination which favours academic over vocational courses. A Scottish Conservative government would therefore reverse the cuts made by the SNP to Scotland's college budget."