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"Of course we accept the need for cuts" This was the first reaction of James Pollock, General Secretary of the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), when he was questioned on BBC radio about the Government's proposals to close four teacher training colleges in Scotland.
The same stance was adopted by representatives of the 600 staff who stand to lose their jobs if Bruce Millan's scheme goes through. Both the EIS, Scotland's main teaching union, and ALCES, the association for lecturers in education colleges, said that they didn't disagree with cuts in social services; they just didn't think that education, and teacher training in particular, should be hit.
Since then, various arguments have been advanced why each one of the four colleges should be spared. Craiglockhart, in Edinburgh, argue they're the only Catholic education college in the East of Scotland. They hope Cardinal Gray will be able to influence Millan sufficiently to let them carry on. Staff at Craigie College in Ayr claim they are indispensable as they alone cover Dum- Tries and Galloway; no doubt Dunfermline College and Callander Park in Falkirk have equally good reasons why they should not suffer.
EIS and ALCES are so desperate not to be seen as opposing the reasonable policies of the government that they are prepared to latch on to any argument against the closures that doesn't involve challenging the cconomic policies that cause them.
The most inviting came from an unexpected quarter. The new Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland, Teddy Taylor, attacked the proposals announcing that it was a sad day for Scottish education". Within hours his statement was echoed by EIS and ALCES in their demands that Scotland be given special preference. At no time did they point out that while four colleges were being axed in Scotland, 130 werc facing closure in England and Wales.
Of all the arguments for special treatment this one holds most support. But by advancing it the teaching unions sabotage effectively any national campaign against the Government's cuts.
One thiny is clear. Neither ALCES or ElS are prepared to consider taking on the Govemment ALCES now wishes to limit the campaien to battling it out over the terms of the Employment Protection Act. A fight purely designed to reach the best available redundancy deal.
If the college closures are to be prevented it will need better leadership than that. The Government won't tear up their plans in response to some reasoned arguments or pleas for special consideration. The only way to stop the closures is to build a united campaign of all those facing public sector cuts.
The National Union of Students recognises that on paper. Its Broad Left leadership, however, look set to do little about it: they claim they have to wait until the leaders of the teaching unions take a lead. Until then NUS look set to simply follow the manouvres of Pollock and ALCES.
The NUS leaders are also afraid to launch a campaign that talks about jobs or cuts or the Socul Contract. If they were serious, the very first demand they would raise would be NO CUTS. A demand that would unite all those in the public sector facing the loss of jobs.
They could also point out that cucation - like all the social services is near to collapse. EIS have a policy that there should be no classes bigger than 33 pupils. which is a fairly hefty number anyway, but
few schools even stick to that. Many have no teachers to teach important subjects. Instead of cutting back the number of teachers in Scotland by 1,100 per year, the Government should be forced to take on more teachers to reduce class sizes. Such a demand, that public services be extended and jobs shared out without loss of earnings, would also unite the building workers, health workers and others suffering from the cuts.
Moray House College of Education fought for such demands at the recent meeting of student representatives from teacher training colleges called by NUS to discuss the closures Moray House and the SEP member of the Scottish NUS executive also argued for college occupations to serve as a focus for the campaign.
Only these sort of policies and actions - rejected by the Broad Left majority on the executive - can ensure that serious fight can be mounted against the closures despite the whimperings of the EIS and ALCES leaders.
BILL FORD (President, Moray House College of Education)