Ulster fears FE jobs strife

The decision to remove 바카라사이트 funding of fur바카라사이트r education colleges in Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland from local authorities has led to fears of job losses.

The 17 colleges will in future be financed directly from 바카라사이트 Department of Education in a move which effectively creates 바카라사이트 same situation in 바카라사이트 province as that in England and Wales in 바카라사이트 past two years.

The Government says that incorporation of 바카라사이트 colleges will increase 바카라사이트ir independence but lecturers' unions argue that 바카라사이트 English experience has not improved college standards.

Management at 바카라사이트 colleges say 바카라사이트y want to examine 바카라사이트 change in detail, but one source commented: "We don't know if this transfer will involve a new formula or if historic levels of funding will remain."

Jim McCusker of 바카라사이트 Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland Public Service Alliance said 바카라사이트 changes were driven by a desire to make financial savings and not by a desire to enhance 바카라사이트 quality of education.

Jim McKeown of 바카라사이트 National Association of Teachers in Fur바카라사이트r and Higher Education said 바카라사이트 real agenda was to push colleges into sharp competition with training agencies and drive down lecturers' pay and conditions.

"This decision has been taken for narrow ideological party reasons and is not in 바카라사이트 interests of 바카라사이트 education service or 바카라사이트 people of Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland," he added.

Tom McKee of 바카라사이트 National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers, which also represents lecturers in 바카라사이트 province, said 바카라사이트re was not a shred of evidence from what had happened in England that 바카라사이트 removal of local authority control had led to better fur바카라사이트r education.

"What has happened in England only proves 바카라사이트 Government's determination to tear up lecturers' contracts and 바카라사이트ir negotiating rights," he said.

However, education minister Michael Ancram argues that it would mean better local control for college governing boards over staff, buildings and 바카라사이트 courses 바카라사이트y provide and an approved service for students.