News In Focus
22 May 2008
Charitable status of colleges to be protected
Ministers have made moves to protect the charitable status of colleges.
An order has been laid in the Scottish Parliament - expected to come into force later this year, subject to Parliamentary agreement - protecting colleges. This follows a review by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator last year.
The review found that ministerial powers to direct further education colleges were inconsistent with the requirement that charities should operate independently of government. This meant that, without action by ministers, colleges would lose the right to charitable status.
First Minister Alex Salmond said: "This government is dedicated to developing a wealthier and fairer Scotland. These two principles require two key conditions - an education system that fits with economic strategy, and an education system that can be both inclusive and sustainable.
"To achieve these conditions, the Scottish Government needs to be able to keep further education in line with the needs of business and growth, while allowing colleges to maintain the charitable status that allows them to deliver."