Fees for students
A further six higher education institutions have announced fees for students from the rest of the UK. Glasgow will charge #163;6,750, with a #163;1,000 bursary in first year for those doing a four-year degree (#163;26,000 for a four-year degree), and #163;9,000 per annum for medicine, dentistry and veterinary studies. Dundee, Strathclyde and the Scottish Agriculture College have capped their fees at #163;27,000 per degree, while a four-year degree at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland will cost #163;36,000. The University of the West of Scotland will charge #163;7,250 per year, or #163;29,000 for a four-year degree.
One-day strike over pay
Support staff at Stow College in Glasgow took part in a one-day strike action this week as part of a campaign in a row over pay. Unison Scotland claims the college has failed to implement a promise to introduce a living wage as part of last year’s pay deal and that the current pay freeze amounts to a real-term pay cut.
Sectarianism’s effect on children
Research by Action for Children has revealed that 36 per cent of children have been treated badly or unfairly because of sectarianism or some other form of hatred. Its survey of 14 to 20-year-olds in the west of Scotland also found that 44 per cent believed that sectarian views are a direct result of upbringing, rather than religious beliefs (25 per cent). The findings have been submitted to the Scottish Parliament’s justice committee as part of its scrutiny of the new Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Bill.
Teacher kept indecent images
A teacher of autistic children at St Cuthbert’s Primary, Edinburgh, has been sentenced to a three-year community order after being caught with indecent images of children on his home computer. Colin Chisholm, 28, earlier pled guilty at Edinburgh Sheriff Court to possessing the images and downloading them between 21 and 29 April 2011. He was also was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for the same period.
Rugby tackled well in Paisley
Paisley Grammar in Renfrewshire has become one of Scotland’s first Schools of Rugby under an initiative launched at the school last week by Sports Minister Shona Robison. The venture between Scottish Rugby and the Scottish Government will include 18 secondaries and is being funded using the CashBack scheme.
