Students at Forth Valley College in Falkirk say strike action by lecturers is having an impact on their own mental health.
Staff have walked out today in a year long dispute between the employer and EIS Union about replacing lecturers' jobs with assessors.
18 days of industrial action has been planned between now and June.
But those who are learning at the college say that this is the last thing they need after a year in lockdown.
One student said: "We went to college to be educated professionally by lecturers who have the time, the knowledge and the passion about what they do.
"They have put a lot of time and effort in over the past year to make sure we are meeting our targets and getting the support we need.
"An instructor or assessor will not and does not do that. Because of the pandemic, learning has been hard enough as it is, for both students and lecturers.
"If it wasn't for my lecturers, I would have left by now because all this online learning has been very, very hard. But it's the lecturers that have got us though it.
"The uncertainty over strikes and what is going to happen really is having a knock on me. I can feel my mental ability going down hill."
Some of the students have taken part in a protest outside the college holding banners with the words 'Save Our Lecturers' and 'Every Mind Matters - Protect Our Mental Health'.
Dr Ken Thomson, Principal of Forth Valley College, said: "Our aim is to minimise the impact of industrial action on learning and teaching, wherever possible, and continue to deliver the best possible learning experiences for our students whilst a resolution is found for this dispute.
"A key priority is to ensure these students, who are already facing challenges due to lockdown restrictions, can complete their qualification and move forward onto their next steps.
"We also recognise the importance of ensuring the wellbeing of our learners and all student support teams will be available throughout the period of industrial action to provide help and assistance, wherever required.”
