A STUDENT at Forth Valley College is backing lecturers as they gear up for potential strike action.

As reported in this week's Advertiser, EIS is currently balloting members to see if they wish to press ahead with industrial action over concerns with recently introduced instructor assessor roles.

The Clacks student, who wished to remain anonymous fearing a backlash, said: " I fully support the undertaking of strike actions by the lecturers.

"I feel like this is an attempt to undermine the teaching standards employed by the current faculty.

"Knowing the current principal makes well over 100k per year, to suggest that some lecturers can volunteer to transition to this new role must be quite insulting for them.

"I can only see this reducing the quality of service provided at FVC."

College principal Dr Ken Thomson said: "Financial stability, whilst improving learner experiences, is at the heart of the decision making process for the college."

He added: "We wish to assure all our learners that we will endeavour to maintain our services and continue to provide the high quality delivery that they have come to expect."

However, the college student said: "I don't see how this new role can be beneficial in helping the students of FVC, especially with the current pandemic.

"We're already reduced to 'virtual learning' with the promise of 'blended learning' down the line though that remains to be seen given the worsening of outbreaks up and down the country."

They added that virtual learning was "not the same" and is problematic for students who do not have the right environment or facilities at home.