College merger move condemned
Susan Lochrie • Published 2 Feb 2012 11:52
5 Comments
JAMES Watt College will lose its Kilwinning campus as part of a controversial new merger, it has been confirmed.
Education secretary Mike Russell announced yesterday that it will become part of a new Ayrshire set-up while the remaining Greenock Finnart and Waterfront campus joins with Reid Kerr and Clydebank.
The news comes as a bitter blow to opponents of the controversial plan, like Greenock and Inverclyde MSP Duncan McNeil.
Mr McNeil today blasted the decision - claiming James Watt College will now be in a 'weakened position' with less influence.
He also warned that the move could have a devastating impact on the Inverclyde economy and jeopardise plans to reduce youth unemployment.
Mr McNeil said: "This is bad news for James Watt College and bad news for Inverclyde, although it is not unexpected because of the minister's inappropriate steer towards Ayrshire last week.
"We are diminished as a college and a college community.
"It is inevitable that the management focus will shift away over the years - we will lose that direct local focus.
"I am fearful for teachers and administration jobs.
"I am also fearful of what it means for students and what will be available here."
The MSP is now seeking assurances from the Scottish Government that James Watt College will have a future.
He added: "This will have a terrible impact on the local economy at a time when youth unemployment is at its highest.
"James Watt College is vital to Inverclyde's economy and to its future. Not only do young people go to the college but it also gives people the opportunity to re-train.
"This merger is a cutback no matter what the government say."
Education secretary Mr Russell announced his decision in parliament yesterday.
He said: "I believe developing a regional basis for colleges will make the sector more efficient and responsive to the needs of students and local economies.
"This approach was proposed in two Scottish Government consultations last year and regionalisation has been strongly supported by the college sector and others in their responses."
He now plans to enter into discussions and consultation with the further and higher education sectors.
The government announced plans to merge colleges last month, with unions and students expressing concerns about the future of further education.
This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 02 Feb 12
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askelvis
456 posts
Feb 2, 12:05
Report commentAt lest you will be able to get a parking space now outside your house Mr McNeil
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******
Feb 2, 12:08
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clone66
12 posts
Feb 2, 12:41
Report commentSince when did the Tele start the "subsribe" option on the web articles?
Living away from the area, I always liked to logon at lunch time, have a quick read and see what is going on in the old town (same as usual really, drunks, eejits and lots of thieving and robbing). But now they want me to subscribe and pay to read just a few lines every now and then!
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Hubber
54 posts
Feb 2, 13:12
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Hubber
54 posts
Feb 2, 13:13
Report commentAlso its not just a few lines as you get the whole paper everything.
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******
Feb 2, 17:17
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RABCARSWELL
74 posts
Feb 2, 19:00
Report commentThe only news in this piece is the confirmation that the Kilwinning campus will become a logical part of the further education regionalisation scheme in Ayrshire. It makes no good sense for an Inverclyde college facility to be based in Ayrshire than it would the other way round.
So how exactly will this put JWC in a "weakened position" and bring down all kinds of dire consequences including "a devastating impact on the Inverclyde economy",as Dunky McNeil is now claiming. Presumably he is in favour of an indefinite status quo even when it no longer makes any sense,economically and otherwise.
Dunky is of course intentionally,but very ham-fistedly,trying to lump this issue together with the merging of JWC with Reid Kerr (which they are both relaxed about) in order to have yet another rant at the Scottish Government,not that he ever needs a real excuse to have a pop.
Maybe Dunky knows something that the college sector didn't when it showed it's support for further education to be regionalised. If so,I think he should tell us.
Recommend? Yes 8
No 1
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******
Feb 2, 22:07
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