Gil Paterson: EU Erasmus+ funding enriches lives of Bearsden and Milngavie youngsters

MSP Gil Paterson has called on European Union education funding to be replaced when Brexit takes place.

Erasmus+ has just granted €3,677 to Bearsden Academy for language training and €2,005 to Douglas Academy for Spanish development.

The scheme is sharing out €21 million for education, training, youth and sport to 159 Scottish colleges, schools, universities and more.

Mr Paterson has conveyed his concerns about the loss in funding when Scotland leaves the EU, and called on the UK Government to find ways to replace it.

He said: “I would like to thank Erasmus+ for awarding funds to Bearsden Academy and Douglas Academy, two first rate schools which I am very proud to represent.

“Erasmus+ funding in Bearsden and Milngavie goes directly into enriching the lives of young people. It promotes international collaboration and friendship across for creative, education and vocational subjects. Its importance cannot be understated.

“This additional funding and the scheme in general will be dearly missed when Scotland is taken out of the European Union — it must be replaced by the UK Government.

“School pupils, college and university students must not be deprived of such brilliant opportunities because the UK is leaving the European Union.”

ENDS
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Further information about Erasmus+ can be found at https://www.erasmusplus.org.uk/about-erasmus