Lack of funding for childcare is causing students to drop out
By Edd McCracken, Education Correspondent

SINGLE parents are being forced to drop out of colleges across Scotland because of a growing nationwide crisis in the provision of childcare in colleges.

The Scottish Government stands accused of failing to set aside sufficient funds for the increasing number of single parents attending further and higher education colleges.

Local authorities are also accused of transferring money away from funding dedicated for single-parent families.

In one example, this resulted in at least 30 single parents dropping out from Kilmarnock College after its childcare support fund was exhausted in the first week of term.

Campaigners have called on the government to urgently review the situation. One MSP called the system "mad".

Jillian McGhie, 18, was forced to drop out of Kilmarnock College in the second year of her three-year Childcare National Certificate. She received notice two weeks into the academic term informing her that the college would not be able to pay for the care of her two-year-old daughter.

"There was no point in me doing the first year if I can't carry on and do the next two years," she said. "I could have been in a job. We feel let down more than anything else."

She is now staying at home to look after her child.

"The situation here has been nothing short of devastating for those students affected," said Eleanor Brown, president of the college's students' association. "No student anywhere should be forced to choose between looking after their child and improving their family's prospects."

The Kilmarnock College had allocated £365,000 for childcare for this academic year and was distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. The fund is now empty.

Dr Gordon Jenkins, acting principal, said the college is in discussions with other institutions which are suffering the same problem. "We are continuing to attempt to identify legitimate sources of further alternative funding but none has so far come to light and it would appear that a resolution to the problem will have to wait until next year," he said.

Organisations including the National Union Of Students Scotland and One Parent Families Scotland say the issue is nationwide. According to campaigners, the problem has arisen because of a lack of co-ordination between Westminster and Holyrood.

The UK government is currently reforming the welfare system to encourage single parents back into work or study. From October, single parents will have to move from income support to jobseekers' allowance as soon as their youngest child becomes 12 years old. In October 2009, the age limit falls to nine, and in 2010 it drops to seven.

Experts predict this will mean a huge increase in single parents applying to colleges. Currently £8.3 million is set aside to care for students' children, calculated from 2006/07 data. Campaigners argue this means the fund is two years behind demand, and single parents are losing out.

While England is currently reforming its childcare strategy in light of the upcoming welfare changes, Holyrood is accused of doing nothing.

Sue Robertson, director of One Parent Families Scotland, said: "The issue needs to be looked at by Holyrood as part of combating child poverty. It's an example of the agenda of Westminster and the agenda of Holyrood not working in partnership."

Kainde Manji, women's officer with NUS Scotland, said: "Adequate childcare provision is essential to ensure that student parents are able to access education. The situation with funding is already worrying. Proposed welfare reforms may soon see childcare provision come under even greater pressure as more parents embark on further education.

"It is imperative that the Scottish Government re-examines this issue to ensure that access to childcare does not prove an insurmountable barrier to those who want to advance their educational and career prospects after having children."

Liberal Democrat MSP Hugh O'Donnell described the situation as "mad". He was highly critical of how local authorities have appropriated funds designed to support lower income families.

"A lot of the money was scooped up and presented in a brown paper bag to local authorities, but with no obligation on them on how they spent it," he said.

"Given their nature, they developed their own priorities and consequently these kids no have longer access to that."

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Government said: "Lone parents have access to funds in a variety of ways. Payments are made or given at the discretion of colleges."