THE Scottish Government has been accused of presiding over a postcode lottery in college provision.
The attack from the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) teaching union follows the publication of new agreements between colleges and the Scottish Funding Council (SFC).
An EIS spokesman said: "The outcome agreements show funding for college teaching is being cut, with a reduction in funded teaching activity, leading to fewer students."
However, John Henderson, chief executive of Scotland's Colleges, said the agreements showed the crucial role colleges were playing.
"At a time of high youth unemployment, colleges are equipping young people with the skills and qualifications for work and, as these outcome agreements show, some 70% of college activity is now focusing on 16 to 24-year-olds," he said.
Meanwhile, the Scottish Government said a college programme run by Skills Development Scotland had found places for almost 1500 young people in courses for improving job prospects.
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