12 May 2019

The number of students studying Information Technology (IT) related subjects at college has fallen by 44 per cent since 2010/11, new analysis from Scottish Labour reveals.

The Scottish Funding Council’s Infact Database shows that the number of students studying IT at college has fallen from 41,113 in 2010/11 to 23,141 in 2017/18.

The proportion of those studying IT related subjects who are women has fallen by 11 per cent over the same period – accounting for 42 per cent of IT students in 2017/18, compared to 53 per cent in 2010/11.

Scottish Labour Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education Iain Gray said:

“It’s extremely worrying that the number of students studying IT related subjects in Scotland’s colleges has fallen so dramatically under the SNP.

“STEM subjects are vital for Scotland’s long term prosperity, and encouraging more women, in particular, into these subjects should be a key aim for the government.

“These trends are going in the exact opposite direction of where we need to be. We need to see urgent action from the Government to avoid real problems for society and the economy in future.”



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