The FE sector has been “cut to the core” and requires additional investment, the NUS students’ union has warned.
Ahead of tomorrow’s autumn statement, Shakira Martin, the NUS vice-president for FE, told MPs at the first public bill committee session on the Technical and Further Education Bill today that FE needs extra funding if it is to create the “stability and certainty” that its staff and learners need.
She told MPs: “Can I just remind everybody that FE [has been] cut to the core for a long time now? And I do believe that, OK, there might be some mismanagement, but when you’re cut to the core and trying to change people’s lives on a budget... I do believe that there is a big call to say we do need investment at the moment.”
‘Stability and certainty’ needed
Ms Martin also said FE providers need “stability and certainty”, but welcomed education secretary Justine Greening’s interest in, and supportive words about, the sector.
Earlier today, David Hughes, chief executive of the Association of Colleges, highlighted the funding disparity between different age groups. “I find it completely illogical that we fund 11-16 at £5,500 [per student per year], 16-18 at £1,500 and HE at £9,000,” he told the committee.
Kelvin Hopkins, MP for Luton North, said that “striking figures” highlighted the “enormous difference” between funding for those in FE and those at university, and argued for parity between the two educational pathways.
This morning, Bill Watkin, chief executive of the Sixth Form Colleges’ Association, told the committee that the proposals contained in the bill for a new insolvency regime for colleges could result in debt and pension payments rising.
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