THE full extent of the Assembly Government’s failure to properly fund further education in Wales is revealed today by the Welsh Conservatives.
Colleges across the country say they are being forced to make cuts to courses and jobs as a direct result of Labour and Plaid Cymru’s lack of investment in lifelong learning and skills at a time of economic recession.
Shadow Education Minister Paul Davies AM contacted all FE colleges in Wales seeking information about their course and staff levels in the new academic year.
Among the responses, colleges reveal that:
Pembrokeshire College is cutting 9,555 hours from its course provision in 2009/10
- Bridgend College has cut all its full time A‐level courses from September
- Gorseinon College in Swansea is cutting adult learner courses
- The College Ystrad Mynach is considering using 15 fewer venues for adult community learning
- Yale College, Wrexham, is cutting some A‐level and Learn direct courses, as well as curriculum linked to the Prince’s Trust
- Barry College has extended an overtime ban on staff, held vacancies and delayed replacing staff.
Colleges which are not cutting staff and courses in 2009/10 warn of “radical action” in future years if the financial situation does not improve.
FE sector leaders also say that moving resources to accommodate the Assembly Government’s ProAct and ReAct initiatives should not come “at the expense of mainstream provision”. They also warn that “reduced opportunities” for those aged 19 and over will mean further education in Wales will “not be an attractive or secure sector to work in”, adding that a “migration of talent” to other sectors and to England is likely. Shadow Education Minister and Preseli Pembrokeshire AM Paul Davies described the findings as “a shocking indictment of Assembly Government complacency, under‐funding and skewed priorities”. Mr Davies called on Education Minister Jane Hutt to meet urgently with college leaders and unions to “get a proper understanding” of the crisis facing the FE sector in Wales. He said: “Assembly Government promises to support students and colleges are exposed today as empty rhetoric. “It is clear that right across Wales the FE sector is in crisis, with inadequate funding and centrally‐imposed priorities threatening courses and jobs. “Labour and Plaid Cymru ministers were dragged kicking and screaming into providing more money for the FE sector earlier this year. “But even this additional investment amounts to a real terms cut which colleges fear could have long‐term consequences. “To effectively starve colleges of funding at a time of high unemployment and recession is reckless and risks long‐term damage to the Welsh economy, skills base, and the promotion of life‐long learning. “We share the concerns of college principals across Wales that this risks the jobs of college lecturers and limits the learning opportunities of both existing students and unemployed workers seeking new skills. “I accept that all Assembly Government budgets are under strain and will continue to be for the foreseeable future. “That’s why Welsh Conservatives have consistently called for ministers to re‐prioritise spending on areas such as the FE sector, instead of frittering away money on freebies, gimmicks and failed strategies. “Anyone who thinks the additional money made available to FE colleges somehow solves the funding problem is sadly delusional. “This is a problem which will not go away until Labour and Plaid ministers accept there is a serious situation they need to deal with. Until that time it is students and staff who will suffer.”