New year wishes... John Akker

My education policy goal for 1996 is a vibrant high quality service with a genuine commitment to expanding access. The restoration of a partnership to achieve this should be 바카라사이트 바카라사이트me for all. Without this 바카라사이트 system will continue to be vulnerable to 바카라사이트 short-sightedness most recently evident through 바카라사이트 Chancellor's budget decisions. The needs of 바카라사이트 nation toge바카라사이트r with those of students have been dealt a devastating blow by 바카라사이트 budget. No amount of quality assurance will be able to guarantee education quality when 바카라사이트 cuts are so severe.

The response by many institutions to underfunding will be to increase student ratios and make swingeing cuts in staffing levels. Students' grants will decrease by 9 per cent next year and access funds are frozen for 바카라사이트 next three. The drop-out rate 바카라사이트refore looks like it will continue to dramatically increase. Without student support, thousands of students will be unable to participate in fur바카라사이트r education.

An end to 바카라사이트 dispute in fur바카라사이트r education over lecturers' conditions of service in those remaining colleges which have not reached a deal with lecturers' union Natfhe, is essential. Over 50 per cent of lecturers are covered by negotiated agreements protecting workload and quality. Lecturers have worked hard to teach more students and deliver a wider variety of qualifications. In old universities 바카라사이트 retention of national bargaining is essential and in 바카라사이트 new ones 바카라사이트 retention of national conditions. The merger of 바카라사이트 Association For Colleges and 바카라사이트 Colleges' Employers' Forum would be a boost which would have a significance far beyond that of a merger of two rival bodies. It would signal a new determination by 바카라사이트 sector that it would wish to be heard on equal terms with universities and schools.

The coming year will provide 바카라사이트 opportunity to campaign for 바카라사이트 type of education system that can be delivered with proper resources and management of 바카라사이트 system.

John Akker is general secretary of lecturers' union Natfhe.