Colleges body warns of desperate times over funding crisis

THE funding shortage in Scottish colleges has reached crisis point, it was claimed yesterday.

- By Craig Paton

Trade body the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) announced its allocations to each college on Thursday, with just eight of the country’s institutions given a real-terms increase in funding.

Colleges Scotland - the body which represents the sector - has said it is “critical” more funding is provided following a 17% drop since 2021-22.

In total, £522.5million has been provided for colleges in 2025-26, up from £509.2m last year but below the rate of inflation.

Graeme Jackson, chief executive of Colleges Scotland, said: “We appreciate the effort that the Scottish Funding Council has gone to in terms of revising the model which decides the funding for each college.