GENERAL FE colleges were this week told they are still in business - if they earn their keep.

The each-college-for-itself environment created by incorporation in 1993 is to be challenged head-on by the Learning and Skills Council, as its 47 local offices look at provision in their own areas.

General FE colleges will have to work harder to get funds but reports of their imminent extinction are exaggerated, according to those holding the purse strings.

The creation of centres of vocational excellence will lead to nearly half of FE colleges becoming specialists. The remaining colleges may lose some work to others, as duplication is eliminated and colleges are urged to concentrate on what they are best at.

Margaret Hodge, lifelong learning minister, in an interview with FE Focus this week, said: “This is not the end of the general FE college but we have to question why we are asking them to do a broad range of jobs. “One of the things we need to think about is exactly what we need. Inspection results suggest that many colleges may be taking on too big a task.

“This is ... an invest-and-reform agenda. Those who say the answer lies only in money are misguided. This is a very outdated approach and not one we can buy into.”

Guidelines outlining LSC powers to intervene in colleges, as contained in the Learning and Skills Act 2000, were published this week.

The LSC says that in a growing sector, rationalisation could mean some general FE colleges expand. It does not interpret her comments as bad news for general colleges.

An LSC spokesman said: “The days of FE being the Cinderella sector are over because it is going to have a lot more customers. General FE colleges still have a vital role to play.”

The Association of Colleges says it is not opposed to reviewing the role of colleges but says the Government should be talking directly to the sector about the way ahead rather than using public statements to drive things forward.

“We agree that it is not the case necessarily that every college should try and do everything,” said John Brennan, the AOC’s FE development director. “The sector wants some clarity about what is being asked for and what criteria we are being judged against, rather than criticism from the sidelines.”

David Gibson, the AOC’s chief executive, was annoyed by Ms Hodge’s earlier criticisms of “patchy” quality. She had accused colleges of failing to provide the flagship service which is needed for post-16 education.

“The speech seemed to be floating the idea that some colleges might have to rethink their mission,” said Mr Brennan. “I think to float that without back-up raises hackles about what the Government is trying to achieve.”

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