More than quarter of students drop out

More than a quarter of students dropped out of their college course last year, according to new figures.

The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) said 10 per cent left courses near the start and a further 18 per cent left after the quarter-way point in 2009-10, meaning a drop-out rate of 28 per cent.

A further 12 per cent completed their studies but did not get the qualification they were hoping to achieve.

SFC chief executive Mark Batho said: “To an extent the statistics reflect the challenges faced by colleges reaching out into communities and trying hard to get people involved in learning.

“However, any level of drop-out at all carries a cost to the public purse, as well as the human cost of disappointments and lost opportunity.

“Giving people the right opportunity in the right place with the right kind of support is really important in terms of people’s progress through lifelong education, and so we will be working closely with colleges to seek improvement in this area.”

The figures are broadly similar to the previous year.

Graeme Kirkpatrick, deputy president of the National Union of Students in Scotland, said: “We fear that any reduction of funding by the government of college budgets, above and beyond last year’s devastating cuts, will lead to a further increase in drop-out rates.”

Labour education spokeswoman Claire Baker said: “Every year we hear reports that bursary funds are running out and students are dropping out due to financial hardship. This situation cannot continue.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We are providing extra financial support to students, a further £15 million spread over this year and next, helping to ensure that they do not drop out of college due to financial pressures.”