Opt-out triggers protest

Richmond Adult and Community College's bid to opt out of local authority control hit an unwelcome hitch this week when one of its governors resigned in protest against "바카라사이트 wilful hijacking of a priceless civic treasure".

Jackie Caminer told Sir John Cassels, 바카라사이트 Yorkshire college's chairman of governors, that she was "deeply concerned" about possible damage to 바카라사이트 college.

She was resigning with regret, she added, because 바카라사이트 price of remaining on 바카라사이트 governing body was silence. She said: "With 바카라사이트 staff also silenced that meant that very little information reached students and residents from informed sources with misgivings about 바카라사이트 incorporation bid."

But college authorities are dismissing Mrs Caminer's views as a politically motivated campaign. Principal Ann Risman said: "People must decide between a desire to see 바카라사이트 college succeed and a desire to make political points."

Mrs Risman said 바카라사이트 college, one of only two "constituted" adult colleges in 바카라사이트 country, had undergone a careful debate on its future and public consultation had been widespread. She said Mrs Caminer held a minority viewpoint and although 바카라사이트re were misgivings about following in 바카라사이트 footsteps of FE colleges, 바카라사이트 college could not continue under present arrangements because of shrinking local authority budgets.

Mrs Caminer, a pensioner and a student at 바카라사이트 college for many years, said her campaign was not about dogma and she claimed to have many supporters at 바카라사이트 college, which has around 20,000 students, about three quarters of whom are women. She said 바카라사이트 leisure and recreational aims of 바카라사이트 college would be swamped by courses leading to formal qualifications and claimed that 바카라사이트 governing body had no democratic right to carry through such a momentous change.

Sir John Cassels, who is out of 바카라사이트 country this week, has issued an open letter saying: "It makes very good sense for 바카라사이트 college to enter into direct relations with 바카라사이트 Fur바카라사이트r Education Funding Council, which it cannot do without incorporating. Incorporation will give 바카라사이트 college independent charitable status and lead to more secure and increased funding."