CLYDEBANK students fear they will lose a year of effort because of an ongoing national strike by lecturers.

Picket lines were back up in front of West College Scotland yesterday and, as the Post went to press, were set to continue today.

Despite national talks between College Scotland and the EIS union, the parties appear no closure to resolving their fight.

And students caught in the middle fear it will derail plans to go to university in September or force them to do an extra year at the college with time running out to mark graded units and assessments.

Siobhan Mcguinness, who was to have had a graded unit on Wednesday, said: “We were advised our Thursday class, which is mandatory and has been most affected, we wouldn’t finish with the timescale.

“I contacted my university to see what would happen as a result and they said they’re waiting to hear from head of admissions to see what will happen to students.”

Alysha Watt added the situation was an “absolute disgrace”.

She said: “Many students are facing not passing their exams – a full year wasted and probably unwanted debt for some.

“My class is struggling to cover our last core module which we need for our whole group award as the next month our classes fall on strike days.”

And Jayne Crawford added: “It’s ridiculous the affect this is having on us all, our studies, our mental health and all our hard work and commitment to be flushed down the toilet.

“I want my qualification that I’ve worked for tirelessly whilst working and bringing up my three children, and that I’ve paid for, this year. They’re going to have to get their fingers out and think about their students’ futures.”

The dispute centres on a deal struck last year, which EIS says Colleges Scotland reneged on and bosses now expect EIS to pay for with worse conditions.

Eugene Crummie, Clydebank campus secretary for EIS, said his own daughter is one of the students affected and he was sympathetic to their plight.

He said: “We sympathise totally and appreciate the anxiety. We don’t want to be on strike and we would call them off tomorrow if Colleges Scotland came to meet us. They’re insisting we should pay for this pay deal they already agreed to.”

Mr Crummie said WCS lecturers have the best pay and conditions so this is a fight “on principle” nationally to ensure staff across Scotland are equal.

He added: “It’s up to the college and Colleges Scotland to sort this out.”

West College Scotland said last week it would make “every effort” to ensure students are not disadvantaged.

Audrey Cumberford, college principal, said: “The college and Students’ Association have been contacted by a number of students who are concerned about misinformation circulating that they will be failed, or will have to repeat a year, or will not be able to progress to the next level of study as a result of the strike.

“I want to assure them that this is not the case. The college, the national examining authorities and the universities will all take into account the impact of this strike on our students, as well as students the length and breadth of Scotland.”

Ms Cumberford added: “Although I cannot offer any guarantees, I can assure our students that every reasonable effort will be made to ensure that there will be no disadvantage to them because of disruption to their studies.”

Colleges Scotland said on Tuesday: “Talks are ongoing and we remain hopeful that a resolution can be found.”