Funding pressures on universities and colleges

HOLYROOD’S confusions over basic education and higher and further education and research remain obvious when we read that HE overall is still facing a funding cut of 3.5 per cent for 2016-2017, while the James Hutton Institute is reportedly receiving £21 million to boost agricultural research when, not too long ago, it had to downsize its staff because of financial shortfalls (“University standards ‘put at risk’”, The Herald, March 21).

Other research institutions receive more than £20m collectively but there is no mention of addressing the funding problems facing FE colleges and modern apprenticeships.

For the long-awaited and wellflagged early-years pre-school development nationwide programme there is still nothing, although this is still said by many experts to be a surefire way of narrowing at least partially the later gap between the performances of children from betteroff homes and those from poorer.

Universities are being pressed to admit more students from lessprivileged backgrounds who hold less than the currently-accepted qualifications for entry and to ensure that there is greater gender equality in course numbers across the board: but Holyrood neglects to mention that prerequisites like the Stem (science, engineering, technology and maths) disciplines could be a hindrance, and that linking induction courses need financing.

It all seems ill thought out and ministers should get a better grip. Holyrood always seems to be able to flash out money for a vast range of initiatives as the mood takes it (even finding £200m albeit temporarily for farmers who are in need because of the failure to distribute their subsidies timeously). But education training and research look to be in danger of being short-changed. Dr Joe Darby, Glenburn St Martins Mill, Cullicudden, Dingwall.