THE financial crisis facing Scottish colleges is to be raised at the Scottish Parliament.
The Scottish Labour Party is to question ministers on the health of the sector after it emerged more than three quarters of colleges are forecasting deficits.
Inequalities spokeswoman Monica Lennon will seek answers after 16 out of 20 colleges predicted they will end the financial year in the red in official returns.
Read more: Financial crisis for Scottish colleges as more than 75% forecast deficit
The findings come just weeks after it emerged the number of part-time college students has plummeted while Audit Scotland said it remained unclear whether the college merger programme introduced by the Scottish Government has saved money.
Ms Lennon said: "Scotland’s colleges are facing a financial crisis. It is vital that SNP ministers now urgently explain to parliament what action they will take to address this situation. It is alarming that 16 out of 20 colleges could end the financial year in the red.
“We still don’t know whether the SNP’s shake-up of our colleges has been worth it, but we do know that college places have been slashed by the SNP.
“Scotland used to have a commitment to education and lifelong learning, but it is hard to see how that is being delivered today as opportunities are cut off from Scots."
Read more: Financial crisis for Scottish colleges as more than 75% forecast deficit
The bleak financial outlook comes after years of cuts in the further education sector which has led to job losses and the axing of part time courses.
The situation is significantly worse than in August when public spending watchdog Audit Scotland warned that 11 colleges were predicting a deficit.
Colleges are also facing an estimated £80 million bill as a result of implementing the Scottish Government's policy to harmonise pay across the sector which will see all lecturers earn up to £40,000 in three years time.
However, more than £100 million in former college reserves is currently lodged in so-called arms length foundations (ALFs) set up when colleges were brought back into the public sector.
Read more: Financial crisis for Scottish colleges as more than 75% forecast deficit
In many cases the money has been ringfenced for improvements to the fabric of college buildings or major capital projects, but unions believe the money could be used to fund pay harmonisation.
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