Scottish education minister to announce plan for wider access to Scotland's further education colleges

Scottish education minister Brian Wilson is expected to announce today a Pounds 1 million plan for wider access to Scotland's further education colleges, writes Olga Wojtas.

He will tell the Association of Scottish Colleges' conference that he is hopeful of winning significant sums for the sector after the comprehensive spending review.

Colleges may use the funds to beef up distance learning and outreach projects. Mr Wilson is promoting the role of wider access in efforts to tackle social exclusion.

The move follows a Pounds 6 million package to widen access to Scottish higher education for part-time students. Part of the funding will help institutions develop part-time courses for up to 2,000 extra students, and there will also be fee waivers from the start of the new academic year for higher education part-timers who are unemployed or on low incomes.