Ahead of publication of the budget NUS Scotland has called on the Scottish Government to support students and apprentices

NUS Scotland President Sai Shraddha S. Viswanathan: ‘We must not see a repeat of last year – education must be funded properly’

Ahead of the Scottish Government’s publication of their draft budget tomorrow, Wednesday 4^th December, the National Union of Students (NUS) Scotland has outlined a number of key spending commitments it looks to see:

• An increase in funding to colleges and universities reversing the £100m cash term cuts seen in 23/24 and reducing the education system’s reliance on the financial exploitation of international students.
• The permanent scrapping of peak rail fares, eliminating an unfair levy on students and workers which discourages environmentally friendly travel.
• A real term uplift in financial support for all students and apprentices, helping to ensure that no-one goes cold or hungry in pursuit of education.
• Commitment to public, long-term student mental health funding so that the education sector can plan and provide mental health support year on year.

While recognising the Scottish Government’s financial position is made more difficult by a higher National Insurance bill, NUS Scotland is calling on the Scottish Government to invest the increased funding it has received in education and public services. Further to this they continue to endorse the STUC’s proposals to augment funding by using Scotland’s full property and wealth taxation powers.

Commenting, NUS Scotland President Sai Shraddha S. Viswanathan said:

“Year after year we have seen students, apprentices and education undervalued and underfunded in the Scottish budget. There can be no more excuses.

Last year’s budget saw £100million of cuts to higher and further education – this must be reversed. Our education system is struggling with universities seeing a 19% drop in funding in the last decade, and colleges 17% in a just a couple of years!

International students are bearing this burden, paying extortionate fees to help close the gap created by a decade of underfunding. This while struggling with the immense hidden costs of education that all students in Scotland face, like overpriced transport and unaffordable rents. All of this is taking a toll on student and apprentice mental health.

If the Scottish Government wants to show they care about students and apprentices, they’ll fund these asks and set us on a path to a healthier education system and a fairer society.”