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City College Joins Fight to Protect Adult Learning
11 March 2005
City College Brighton and Hove is joining a national campaign to protect adult learning in the face of a squeeze in Government funding. Colleges deliver education and training to 3.5 million adults and achieve for their learners more than half the annual total of vocational qualifications into the economy. However, Government commitments to schools and universities mean that from 2006 onwards there will not be enough money for adult learning. In July 2004 Ivan Lewis, Minister for Adult Learning and Skills, said that the government did not apologise for having to make 'tough choices' about priorities on the adult skills agenda.
City College is now meeting its MP's and Prospective Parliamentary Candidates to ensure their support to protect adult provision. The college is also sending representatives to join the Association of Colleges' National Parliamentary Day on Wednesday 16 March, when Principals, staff, students and employers from all over the country will be going to London to lobby Parliament.
Principal of City College Ann Smith says:
'We feel very strongly that adult learning should be protected. It is not fair that schools and universities should get priority funding. Adult learning is often a second chance for people to return to education after missing out when younger.
'The college already does a fantastic job for its adult learners, across a very wide age range. In many, many cases we actually change people's lives as a result of their education and training at City College, whether it be through gaining a place at University or, for example, going on to open a Hairdressing Salon. The contribution that Adult Learning in FE makes to the national economy is enormous and totally undervalued by politicians, compared to traditional HE and schools.
'Our college is very proud of the role it plays in providing adult education and training to the local community and we want to ensure that we are able to maintain the same high standards in the future.'
City College Hairdressing student Alicia Taitt says:
'I feel that it's important to make a stand about this. Our needs are being sacrificed when statistically speaking we're more likely to complete our courses and provide the very skilled workforce that the Government is currently saying this country desperately requires.'
For further information, please call Brian Bell, Marketing Communications Officer, on 01273 667788 Ext. 488 or email bb1@ccb.ac.uk
About City College Brighton and Hove: Founded over 100 years ago, City College Brighton and Hove has become an international centre of excellence. Every year over 2000 full-time and 13,000 part time students as well as many international and European students choose City College as their education provider. Offering over 650 courses from basic level to pre-University level, City College is working with its partners to develop the workforce of the future.
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