adult learning places cut
WORKERS, SEPT 2005 ISSUE
About 15,000 evening classes and part-time courses are being scrapped following the 3% cut in government funding for adult learning announced by the Learning and Skills Council in June.
More than 200,000 adult education and training places on courses ranging from A-level English to painting and decorating will disappear in September, with further closures expected in 2006. The Association of Colleges said fees for many of the remaining courses will double or even quadruple as colleges try to make up shortfalls in their budgets.
Hampstead Garden Suburb Institute, in the London borough of Barnet, is axing half its provision for people with severe learning difficulties. "By giving us £120,000 less in funding this year and by making it clear that the funding of education for adults with severe learning difficulties is not one of their priorities, the Learning and Skills Council have effectively forced us into this position," said the principal, Fay Naylor.
David Collins, principal of South Cheshire College, said, "We are getting 2.2% less than we were meant to. We will cut our adult programme by around 1,000 places."