COLLEGES Scotland is right to express concern (“Fears for students as 9% pay rise imposed on colleges”, The Herald, December 6).

For the north, this is the tip of the iceberg. The consequences for small colleges in the Highlands and Islands is a 50-60 per cent hike in lecturers’ salaries with increased holidays and reduced contact time in classes with students. As Shetland and Orkney College staff are employed by their councils, an increase in lecturers’ salaries will create demands by their teachers who will soon be paid less for being better qualified, fully regulated and working longer hours.

The impact of national bargaining must be funded by the Scottish Government through the Scottish Funding Council. For Highland and Islands colleges, the cost will £10.4 million annually from August 2018. If not fully funded, their continued financial viability will be seriously in question, with a disastrous impact on remote rural communities for whom these colleges are the only lifeline for access to further and higher education and training. At the very least, there would be significant closures of learning centres and staff redundancies; not good for students, communities, rural economies, the region or Scotland’s college sector. Dr Michael Foxley,

Chairman, the Further Education Regional Board for the Highlands and Islands, 2 Achaphubuil, By Fort William.