Scots seek answers

SCOTTISH colleges are demanding more information on Government plans in further education to link quality and funding.

The Scottish Office white paper, Raising the Standard, out last week says its current funding formula does not make a clear enough link. Areas in which quality might improve will vary from college to college. The paper promises "detailed consultation" on how to link quality and funding in a formula that will be implemented next session.

Tom Kelly, chief officer of the Association of Scottish Colleges, said: "We need to know more about how much is involved and from what source it will be funded. If it is genuinely new money, we are willing to talk about how it can be done. But if it is simply going to be top-sliced from existing resources, there isn't room for that sort of tinkering."