17 March 2006

Vulnerable students to lose out as 25% of basic skills courses axed

A north London college is to lose 25% of its courses in basic skills such as reading and writing – even though they are supposedly one of the government’s top educational priorities.

Members of NATFHE – The University & College Lecturers’ Union, working at City and Islington College have learnt that a £1.4m budget cut means that 25% of its courses in literacy, numeracy, IT and English as a Second Language (collectively known as Skills for Life courses), will have to be closed. Many of the courses are run outside of the college in community centres in order to reach those people who will benefit most from them.

Lecturers have been told that the courses must stop running because they are being assessed the wrong way. However, the college was halfway through a three-year programme to change the method of assessment from coursework to the government’s recommended method of national examinations. But before it could complete that transfer, the funding was pulled by the Learning and Skills Council.

Adrian Whittaker, City and Islington College lifelong learning tutor, said:

‘Teachers at this college have worked incredibly hard to develop a wide range of courses for beginners. For many of these people, starting on a low level basic skills course enables them to move up to a higher level course that can dramatically improve their chances of work.

‘What a shame this has happened in Islington which has particularly high levels of unskilled, unemployed adults who desperately need these kind of opportunities.’

Barry Lovejoy, NATFHE’s head of colleges, added:

‘The government say that improving basic skills is one of their priorities. Yet here we see reading, writing, computer and English courses facing closure. It seems that the system is so inflexible that it actually works against colleges who are trying to do the right thing by bringing those people with the least skills and qualifications into colleges.

‘We would like to see colleges given more of a say over which courses they are allowed to run because they best know what the needs of their local communities are.’

Notes for editors

• The government has set strict new priorities for further education which include 16-19-year-olds, adults taking a Level 2 qualification (GCSE or equivalent) for the first time, and students taking Skills for Life (basic skills) courses that are assessed by national exams. Courses that don’t fall into these categories are under threat at colleges around the country.

• In 2003/04, some 89% of City and Islington College’s students were from areas of socio-economic deprivation and approximately 43% were from minority ethnic backgrounds.

• City and Islington College is one of only 12 further education colleges in the country awarded Beacon status in recognition of the high quality of teaching and learning.

• Staff and students at City and Islington College have launched a campaign against the cuts which will include a rally in Adult learner’s Week in May.

Contact
Adrian Whittaker, NATFHE representative at City and Islington College: 020-7704 7251
Vicky Wilks, press officer: 020-7520 3207/07970-383995

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