The merger of Fife’s three colleges could lead to students being deprived of local access to courses, claims Fife MSP and Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats Willie Rennie.

Adam Smith, Carnegie and parts of Elmwood College are to merge into a Fife regional institution after the Scottish Government’s funding arrangements changed to a regional model.

Willie Rennie believes that the new college may only provide certain courses in one of the towns where the colleges are located rather than many as at present. As many students cannot afford to travel, this may result in students not taking up the education opportunities.

Commenting, Mr Rennie said:

“The Scottish Government seems to be obsessed with bigger is best, yet I don’t believe that it is best to deprive students of access to the course they want at their local college.

“We want young people to get the education they need to get a job they want yet cutting local courses could put that ambition under threat.

“I share the concern of the National Union of Students about the potential impact of these changes.

“The new regional funding model effectively forces colleges in Fife to merge. There is one pot of money for Fife whereas in the past each college was given their own budget.

“I have already raised my concerns privately about this change but now we need public guarantees that local access to courses in Dunfermline, Cupar, Kirkcaldy and Glenrothes will not be cut.”