JWC board chairman resigns
Russell Steele • Published 17 Feb 2012 14:20
6 Comments
THE board chairman of James Watt College has resigned in protest over Scottish Government plans to merge it with other institutions.
Drew Duncan OBE has served as chair since 2008 but is unhappy its Kilwinning campus will be hived off to form a new Ayrshire regional college, while the remaining parts of James Watt will team up with Reid Kerr and Clydebank.
Mr Duncan's resignation was announced this afternoon.
He said: "It is with considerable sadness that I have decided to leave my role as chairman and board member at James Watt College.
"This move has not been prompted by any disagreement within the board or with any member of staff at the college; rather it is very much a personal decision.
"I find myself disagreeing with the regionalisation plans for the college sector put forward by the Scottish Government recently.
"It is my personal opinion that these proposals will not have a favourable impact on James Watt College as a whole and for this reason I wish to finish my tenure as board chair.
"It is my view that the cabinet secretary for education's decision to merge the North Ayrshire Campus in Kilwinning with neighbouring colleges in the Ayrshire region, will effectively break up a successful college for political reasons.
"I do not believe there is any educational justification for such a move.
"I wish to publicly express my thanks to all at James Watt College and within the college sector.
"I consider it a privilege and an honour to have served on the board and an even greater privilege to have been Chair for the past five years."
James Watt College Principal Sue Pinder said: "Drew Duncan has been an excellent chair and has served the college in every way possible for a number of years now.
"We are very sad to see him step down but of course respectful of his decision to do so.
"On behalf of everyone at James Watt College, I wish him well in his future endeavours and thank him for all his tremendous
Have your say. Post a comment on this article.
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askelvis
456 posts
Feb 17, 15:16
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Stufer
16 posts
Feb 17, 20:02
Report commentGood riddens to the chairman of the board who rubber stamp the rogue policies and bad decisions of the most toxic and overpaid management team in the whole Scottish Further Education sector.
It's interesting that he says that regionalisation has no educational rationale when the main purpose is to get rid of rogue managements and the corrupt boards that appoint them. This can only lead to massive savings in education and decisions eventually being made by people who care about education for a change.
Hopefully the rest of his crooked crew will follow his example.
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Yes 3
No 2
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SAR819
118 posts
Feb 17, 22:18
Report commentThey move on but it does not effect the collegs itself.
At least they will save a good wage.
No one is indespencible as some people put themselfs in this self appointed position. The edicuation will continue and wont stop because thewy chuck it.
When one door shuts another opens.
Recommend? Yes 0
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Flipper21
34 posts
Feb 17, 22:34
Report commentFor once Elvis.. you got it right...
Stinkin rats and all that.... still not big enough to fire off some shots though.
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herbs50
8 posts
Feb 18, 11:03
Report commentThe man has principles, hat off to him. Just shows that in any country no matter where, the big boys and girls in government rule and its to hell with the people-the old maxim "if it aint broke dont fix it" rules. James Watt College forever, went there,
expat Herbie
Recommend? Yes 1
No 3
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Stufer
16 posts
Feb 18, 15:57
Report commentWhat is his definition of a successful college?
This biggest, highest paid management structure in the whole sector?
Student provision being cut back to less than 2 days per week in many cases for full time courses, with more and more self study and on line nonsense being imposed in place of proper classroom teaching?
The college having the worst record of industrial relations with its staff in the sector?
Obviously he doesn't mention any of this as he is the person responsible for allowing this and many other instances of mis appropriation of public funding.
Good riddens!!!
Recommend? Yes 3
No 2
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