Forth Valley Students Association and NUS Scotland are supporting students and calling for Scottish Government to do the same.

The National Union of Students (NUS) Scotland has today called for the Scottish Government to guarantee the future of the Alloa campus at Forth Valley College, following the announcement earlier this month that college was considering closing the campus due to financial pressures.

NUS Scotland is working closely with Forth Valley Students Association (FVSA) to support students at this time and ensure they have a voice and representation as decisions are made about their college’s future.

Commenting, a spokesperson for Forth Valley Student Association, said:

“Similar to everyone at the College, we are concerned about the current situation facing our learning community, and the potential closure of the College’s Alloa Campus. This campus plays a vital role in providing accessible education and opportunities to students across Clackmannanshire and beyond.

While options are being explored for the campus, we will work closely with college staff and management to ensure students are informed, supported, and able to continue their studies.

Together, we stand united - with college staff, our leadership team, trade unions and most importantly, our students.”

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

“The fact that Forth Valley College is having to consider such extreme measures as the closure of a campus is incredibly concerning and should set alarm bells ringing about the challenges being faced by colleges and their students after years of underfunding.

Colleges disproportionately serve working class communities and the life changing education they can provide is essential to the Scottish Government’s stated aim of tackling poverty but in budget after budget they have been overlooked and there has been a real terms cut of 17 percent to college funding since 2021-22.

The value of having local colleges embedded in their communities cannot be overstated. We call on the Scottish Government to guarantee the future of the Alloa campus. They must work closely with the college administration and ensure that the campus, students’ education, and staff's livelihoods are protected.

And in the next Scottish budget, there must be a move away from underfunding. Cuts are having a devastating impact and it’s time that politicians start saying no to austerity in further education.”