Dumfries and Galloway College bosses have extended the academic year by a week as a result of strikes by lecturers.
Industrial action over pay stepped up last week as members of staff walked out on Wednesday and Thursday.
After consulting with students about the loss of class time due to strikes, the college has decided to extend the term.
Andy Glen, the acting principal, said: “We have decided to extend the timetable by one week. This decision is as a result of feedback from our students.
“This will create a week 37 of the academic year, finishing on 21st June. There is work under way to ensure that bursaries and transport required will be provided in this week for students who come in.
“For those students who have already completed their course and/or have sat final examinations, there will be no requirement for them to be in attendance in that extra week.”
The long-running pay row centres on the EIS-FELA (Further Education Lecturers’ Association) seeking a bigger cost-of-living wage increase.
However, college management across Scotland point out that lecturers have had large pay rises in recent years.
The bitter dispute has led to six days of industrial action in 2019.
There are no further strike days planned by the EIS-FELA but the dispute has not been resolved.
