HUNDREDS of trade unionists gathered online today to hear about concerns that college lecturers in Scotland are being replaced by “lower-qualified and lower-paid instructors.”

More than 200 campaigners and activists took part in a day of action organised by the Educational Institute of Scotland Further Education Lecturers’ Association (EIS-FELA) as members were consulted over the “emerging practice” of replacing lecturer posts with the role of instructor or assessor.

Ongoing issues over the practice of colleges “deprofessionalising” posts across Scotland have been raised by union representatives, with industrial action already underway at Forth Valley College over this. 

The changes to positions held by staff could mean cuts to pay and holidays, and up to 35 hours of class time with no time for preparation or marking, unions warned.   

The EIS opened a national ballot of its members today through the national body Colleges Scotland, over the replacement of lecturer posts with lower-paid and less-qualified instructor/assessor posts.

EIS-FELA urged members to back the calls to action, claiming without lecturers there is “no point in colleges.”

President Charlie Montgomery said: “We can expect to see right across the country of the imposition of instructor grades. 

“We have to defend our roles. We have to stop the deprofessionalisation of our positions. Not just for ourselves, but for our students and our country.”

EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan warned moves to downgrade staff were “purely a cost-cutting measure with absolutely no educational merit.”

STUC president Mary Senior and NUS Scotland president Matt Crilly also spoke at the rally, claiming that the proposals fly in the face of quality education. 

Mr Crilly said: “We shouldn’t have to discuss industrial action when we are in crisis. We should be banding together. 

“The Scottish government really needs to seriously consider how much they value colleges and lecturers.”

Colleges Scotland, the sector’s representative body, said that it is disappointed industrial action is being considered “in the midst of a global pandemic that has disrupted education, and severely impacted the economy and employment prospects,” adding that instructor positions are “well-established.”

A spokeswoman added: “Colleges use a variety of different learning and teaching methods designed to give the best student experience and to suit the needs of the subject.”