Further 'Savage' Cuts in Adult Education Foreseen

2.33.13pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 20th May 2008

Government cuts in funding will mean "dramatic" falls in local adult education numbers this year as support is withdrawn for all students and courses which do not fit the Government's priority for apprenticeships and formal skill training. Many part-time and vocational qualifications will have to close. Also lack of any indication from the Government as to how much money is available means that some colleges - but not yet Richmond - are having to issue redundancy notices to all their staff.

Vincent Cable MP raised the collapse in adult education numbers with the Minister in Parliament last week and will follow up with a visit to him. He plans to work alongside the Adult College Principal and staff to alert the public to the threat to adult education.

He said: "We are fortunate to have a really excellent college in the Borough. But the excellence masks a brutal programme of cuts which affects all but the narrowly vocational courses. It is clear that next year - starting September - could be even worse. The Government's approach to adult education is philistine, bureaucratic and deeply damaging."

NOTES

Below is the Hansard extract of Dr Cable's question to the Minister (15 May 2008 : Column 1538):

Dr. Vincent Cable (Twickenham) (LD): Can the Minister explain the finding in the latest report from the Learning and Skills Council on further education that safeguarded provision, far from being safeguarded, has collapsed by 42 per cent., affecting 185,000 adults over the past three years?

Bill Rammell: I do not recognise the figure that the hon. Gentleman has mentioned. We are certainly committed to maintaining the level of funding to informal adult education, for example. We have also maintained as a priority learning for learners with learning difficulties and disabilities. We need to ensure that this central direction is implemented on the ground, and I am happy to meet the hon. Gentleman to discuss the matter.