Adult Funding Cuts

UNISON Press Release – Adult Funding Cuts 2010/11

WARNING OF 7000 COLLEGE JOB CUTS - UNISON REACTION

Commenting on the Association of Colleges’ evidence to the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills’ Select Committee, which states that cuts in adult education could lead to 7,000 job cuts in colleges in England, Christina Mcanea, UNISON’s Head of Education, said:

“UNISON will fight any attempt to make 7,000 job cuts to such a vital service.

“Many people, who are desperately trying to re-train during the economic recovery in a bid to find work, would see their courses cancelled.

“The cuts would also add thousands of highly skilled adult education staff to the dole queues.

“Colleges must act responsibly and not make any rash decisions before they have received their final budget allocations, as the funding picture is not yet clear.”

UNISON is meeting with the FE Minister, Kevin Brennan, on 25 February, to urge that the government rethink a £200 million cut to adult learner budgets and to call for greater budget flexibility locally to help colleges manage tight finances.

Ends

Feb '10