Local learning opportunities for less able people are under scrutiny after a New Galloway teenager had her hopes of attending college in Dumfries dashed.
Dakota Jardine’s mum and dad had intended to enrol their daughter in Life Skills 2 at Dumfries and Galloway College after the summer holidays.
But they were told the course had been discontinued because enrolment numbers were too low.
Castle Douglas High School pupil Dakota now faces a 90-mile round trip to the college’s Stranraer campus to get the learning she needs.
According to her dad Hugh, that would entail a daily return trip of up to three hours – plus seven hours class time.
He told the News: “My daughter Dakota is 18 and is Down’s Syndrome.
“Dumfries and Galloway College told us there was no funding for Dumfries this year because there were only four of five young people for the level two course.
“There were level three courses but none at level two – and level three is beyond Dakota’s development stage.
“The college said they couldn’t get course funding unless they had 10 people.
“But that means four or five young people who would have benefited are losing out.
“I was not happy – we are leaving disabled kids out there with nothing.
“But at least if we shout about this it could help other people.
“It might make the college stand up and say we need to put more on for young people like Dakota.
“I feel my daughter has been forgotten about.”
He added: “There is a Life Skills 2 running at Stranraer.
“It’s about social and life skills like home baking and will help Dakota get prepared to move on and find her own place.
“But enrolling there means an hour to an hour and a half journey each way – and with six or seven hours at college that’s a 10-hour day.
“We thought that would be a bit much but we have no choice.
“Dakota has an interview for Stranraer on April 20.”
Hugh, 49, a full time carer for his mother, praised Castle Douglas High for its role in smoothing Dakota’s post-school path.
It includes introducing her to Newton Stewart Adult Resource Centre (ARC), where she will spend three days a week.
He said: “Mr Smith, the headteacher, has been excellent – he’s been great.
“Dakota was due to leave on May 16 but her time has been extended right to the end of the summer holidays.
“The school has been as much help as they can be and are already transitioning Dakota to the adult resource centre.
“The aim is for Dakota to have two days a week at college and three at the ARC.
“Transport to and from the ARC is down to us.
“We are not sure about transport to Stranraer as yet.”
Hugh added: “We also have three boys, two of whom no longer live at home and are out and working.
“Our youngest is due to start at the Dumfries campus in the new term.”
A Dumfries and Galloway College spokesperson confirmed the course at Dumfries had been discontinued.
He said: “We had put in place marketing and improvement plans to see if numbers and performance might increase.
“We continue to offer our level three Life Skills course at Dumfries, our level two Life Skills at Stranraer and work in collaboration with Dumfries and Galloway Council to offer Project Search which enables those with learning disabilities move into employment.”
