Fife College is confident that they will be able to fund the increase in lecturers pay despite speculation that some colleges could not afford a recently agreed deal. 


Lecturers at Halbeath and Rosyth have been striking in recent months as part of a campaign for fair pay and equality in Scotland's colleges.


The industrial action caused several days of disruption for students and some even missed exams. 


However, the Educational Institute for Scotland (EIS) union suspended further action last month when an agreement was reached with Colleges Scotland that would lead to the first payment of a new salary scale.


£4.6 million has been provided by the Scottish Government for the increase. 


It is now believed that some colleges cannot afford the increases after College Scotland said that many institutions would struggle to honour the deal due to a difficult financial situation in the sector. 


A briefing note from the EIS team states: "We signed an agreement in May in which we agreed we would immediately suspend strike action and the employers side agreed to immediately implement the harmonisation pay elements. 


"This week they advised us that while the employers association has agreed in principle to pay, some colleges may choose not to do this due to cash concerns."


Despite the worry that college's might be facing further strikes Fife College is hopeful that they can honour the deal. 


A Fife College spokesperson said: "Fife College is confident that, with the support of the Scottish Government, it will be able to fund the uplift in pay for lecturers which is due to be paid in July, backdated to April 2017.” 


A spokeswoman for Colleges Scotland said: "A small number of colleges are in a desperate financial position, but because of the cost pressures facing all colleges the reality is that this will be difficult to afford for many institutions."