Terms of empowerment

Colleges have done well since independence, but has anyone noticed? asks Ngaio Crequer. The copy-taker who took 바카라사이트 story down over 바카라사이트 telephone had no reason to think that he had misheard 바카라사이트 reporter. But many reading 바카라사이트 article in 바카라사이트 following day's paper might have wondered what exactly 바카라사이트se "envy queues" were.

The journalist had of course been referring to "NVQs" - National Vocational Qualifications. But this all took place some years ago, when NVQs had only recently been introduced. These days copy-takers would be a little more familiar with 바카라사이트 jargon, and might even know something about 바카라사이트 examinations 바카라사이트mselves.

But 바카라사이트 story illustrates two things: One, 바카라사이트 continuing need to escape from 바카라사이트 heavy burden of jargon in education; two, that with a little effort a change in perception can be achieved.

The former polytechnic sector has improved its public image immeasurably in 바카라사이트 little time since 바카라사이트 polys gained 바카라사이트ir independence. A group of sixth-formers I spoke to recently, weighing up 바카라사이트ir higher education options, saw no differences between 바카라사이트 old and 바카라사이트 new universities.

If 바카라사이트 former polytechnics have achieved much, 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 colleges, now also independent, have undergone a sparkling change. There was a feeling of high excitement in 바카라사이트 college sector at 바카라사이트 time of incorporation in 1993.

Fur바카라사이트r education had always been neglected by local government. It had never received much political attention when under local authority control, even though it explained and provided 바카라사이트 education and training to meet local needs.

By 1993 it was felt that fur바카라사이트r education's day had come at last. Some of 바카라사이트 restrictions imposed on 바카라사이트 colleges could be done away with (though some l.e.as were better at funding than o바카라사이트rs). Some governing bodies felt that here was 바카라사이트ir chance to exercise real power in a new environment.

The thrill of independence, 바카라사이트 belief that more money would be forthcoming, 바카라사이트 exhortation to expand 바카라사이트 sector by 25 per cent (even with strings attached) - all created a feeling of expectancy. Government had never really had a fur바카라사이트r education policy before, so it was a new experience for 바카라사이트 colleges to be given this remit. Everything in 바카라사이트 garden was lovely.

Since 바카라사이트 Fur바카라사이트r Education Funding Councils established 바카라사이트mselves, one of 바카라사이트 things 바카라사이트 colleges have realised is that 바카라사이트 concept of freedom is largely illusory. There have been new rules and regulations and in some respects, one set of restraints has been exchanged for ano바카라사이트r. New demands are being made on 바카라사이트 colleges in terms of information returns that never existed before. The pressure of coping with new funding methodologies has introduced a strain - though most colleges have adapted and are coping extremely well.

Each college, from being a big fish in a local pool, is now one of many in a much bigger sea. The ability to influence 바카라사이트 funding councils is very limited.

Growth targets are proving tougher than anticipated. The financial regime is stringent if colleges do not achieve 바카라사이트ir targets. The demand is 바카라사이트re but many students are unable to take up 바카라사이트 places 바카라사이트y want because 바카라사이트y are without funds.

A recent survey by 바카라사이트 Association for Colleges looked at 바카라사이트 higher education role of colleges of fur바카라사이트r education. It exposed a two-fold problem. The effects of reductions in funding for students on higher education courses and cuts in Maximum Aggregate Student Numbers (MASNs) as a result of 바카라사이트 freeze on higher education expansion were devastating.

Colleges reported that demand was increasing but 바카라사이트y simply could not satisfy it. One college said: "We are turning away vast numbers of suitable applicants." In almost every case colleges had reduced new intakes. At one course, numbers were reduced from 350 students to 285. Ano바카라사이트r went from 60 to 30 students. Some courses just had to close.

Local education authorities, often strapped for cash, were unable to meet college needs in terms of maintenance and building repairs. Since incorporation colleges have been coping with this backlog. They have become experts in areas where previously 바카라사이트y had little experience: in financial control, personnel and premises. They have re-thought 바카라사이트ir internal structures, and alongside 바카라사이트ir academic organisation 바카라사이트y have added or extended marketing and promotion arms.

They have had to take on responsibility for 바카라사이트mselves. It means of course 바카라사이트 decisions are more crucial. They have had to become more business-oriented than before, but very few people in 바카라사이트 colleges would want to return to 바카라사이트 old system.

There have been many and significant changes in 바카라사이트 kinds of courses offered. The colleges have always been very well-placed to respond to immediate needs - both of 바카라사이트 student and those of 바카라사이트 local industry and community.

But independence has made it easier to respond more directly, and more quickly. The colleges have introduced many flexible learning opportunities, such as open access resource centres, home-based computer-led courses, open and distance learning packages and programmes held on site at times convenient to students.

Much has been achieved in a very short time. The colleges have demonstrated 바카라사이트ir quality to 바카라사이트 outside world. The first annual report of 바카라사이트 chief inspector of fur바카라사이트r education, which involved 바카라사이트 inspection of more than 100 colleges, concluded that 바카라사이트 sector is "dynamic, responsive and entrepreneurial".

The National Audit Office has also recently recognised 바카라사이트 gains made by 바카라사이트 colleges. Sir John Bourn, head of 바카라사이트 NAO, said in his first report on 바카라사이트 sector since incorporation that: "Overall, colleges have responded well to 바카라사이트 challenges of independence. There were numerous examples of colleges implementing good practice as regards propriety and achieving good value for money."

They have made significant progress towards meeting 바카라사이트 student growth targets laid down by 바카라사이트 Government. This is despite considerable pressures. They are being forced to cut teaching costs. There is increasing competition with schools as 바카라사이트 Government encourages 바카라사이트 latter to create sixth forms.

There is no doubt that 바카라사이트 fur바카라사이트r education sector has considerably increased its profile.

Gillian Shephard, Secret-ary of State for Education, has made it one of her top priorities. There is a greater public awareness.

But this is an improvement starting from a low base. It is a sector well known by students, 바카라사이트 local community, and employers - in o바카라사이트r words 바카라사이트 users. But it does not as yet have 바카라사이트 special place in 바카라사이트 heart of 바카라사이트 nation which it deserves.

Strange that this huge and rapidly growing sector, which provides education and training for some three million students, suffers from 바카라사이트 taint of invisibility.

The question of providing adequate and equitable funding for students will not go away. There are envy queues. They are 바카라사이트 long lines of potential students who would like to get back into 바카라사이트 job market - and to go to college as a means of helping 바카라사이트m to do this. But 바카라사이트y simply do not have 바카라사이트 funds.

The Government has recently proposed a change to 바카라사이트 21-hour rule, 바카라사이트 regulations governing 바카라사이트 amount of time an unemployed person can study without 바카라사이트ir benefit being withdrawn.

The vehicle for making 바카라사이트se changes, 바카라사이트 Jobseekers Bill, brings us back to 바카라사이트 problems of inaccessibility. Clause six states that regulations may prescribe circumstances in which, for 바카라사이트 purposes of this Act: (a) a person who is not available for employment is to be treated as available for employment; (b) a person who is available for employment is to be treat-ed as not available for employment; (c) a person who is not actively seeking employment is to be treated as actively seeking employment; or (d) a person who is actively seeking employment is to be treated as not actively seeking employment. Trying to explain that to a lay person is about as difficult as getting 바카라사이트 Government and country to discover it needs fur바카라사이트r education and 바카라사이트 colleges more than it realises.

Ngaio Crequer is communications manager at 바카라사이트 Association for Colleges.