College fund fears spark protest

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College leaders in Wales have warned that proposed funding cuts may lead to job losses and courses being scrapped.

Less than a quarter of colleges will get an above-inflation increase but the majority are facing decreases in real terms, BBC Wales has learned.

A colleges representative said out of 18 institutions they surveyed, around 300 jobs were set to go.

The Welsh Assembly government said funding was distributed fairly and the changes had been planned since 2004.

Almost 300,000 people in Wales access further education (FE) institutions.

I think this an absolute crisis, we depend heavily upon our further education sector Mike German AM

Fforwm , the body representing 23 FE colleges in Wales, said institutions were responding successfully to the agenda from the Welsh assembly government.

But John Graystone, its chief executive, said they felt like "a school pupil in detention for excellent behaviour."

He added: "From 18 colleges, we have had feedback saying roughly 300 jobs losses, courses being closed affecting maybe 2,500 learners and a further £2m reductions in things like capital equipment, buildings, library services and so on."

"Increasingly tough"

Ian Rees, the principal of Coleg Meiron Dwyfor, said that the assembly government's ambitious plans for further education meant life was becoming increasingly tough for colleges.

He said: "It's making it hugely difficult because the requirements on us are increasing.

"We welcome the Webb report and the skills report - we want to respond to that but it's becoming more and more difficult because of the requirements are going up, the charges are increasing and the funding is going down - so to my mind that just don't add up."

Ben Gray, the president of the National Union of Students (NUS) in Wales said any interruption of the staffing structure is "naturally going to result in a changing attitude towards the learning environment."

'Absolute crisis'

He added: "Be that a formal change with larger classrooms or simply the impact that morale of teachers and lecturers could have on FE students."

The Welsh Assembly Government says the funding is distributed in the "fairest way" to ensure further education institutions "can deliver the best possible education standards".

The assembly government said several factors influence how much money a college will receive like the number of students attending from a deprived area; how many courses are delivered in Welsh and the number of programmes offered.

It says that this is all part of a move from an old method of funding FE institutions to a more effective method, the changes have been planned since 2004 and colleges should be prepared for the new funding arrangements.

But Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Mike German said: "I think this an absolute crisis, we depend heavily upon our further education sector for whose vital skills which Wales needs in order to strengthen our economy to provide a direction and drive for the future."