Edinburgh College cannot be allowed to fail

Edinburgh College - credit Jisc

There have been further concerns this week about the future of Edinburgh College, the largest of Scotland's merged FE institutions.

The Scottish Funding Council have produced a report highlighting the college's £5m deficit and a falling number of students finishing their studies. 

College principal Annette Bruton said the report contained "no surprises" and that the institution was committed to reforming its curriculum to meet demand. 

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There should have been no surprises for government either. In March Holyrood's education committee heard investment and restructuring of colleges following their merger into public bodies has been spread unequally across Scotland, with Edinburgh College a net loser. 

While City of Glasgow College received £2.5m from the Scottish Funding Council as part of its merger process, Edinburgh College got just £300,000, Bruton pointed out to MSPs.

However in January the college pledged to guarantee every school leaver in the Lothians a place as part of its ongoing curricular reform. 

But given the merged colleges are now public bodies, and there is now no other large-scale option for post-16 college learning in Lothians, the responsibility for ensuring the college's future will ultimately be shouldered by ministers.