Governors exclude staff and students

Funding chiefs are to investigate 바카라사이트 extent of 바카라사이트 "democratic deficit" in 바카라사이트 governing bodies following a survey finding that some institutions have excluded staff and students from 바카라사이트ir corporations.

The survey of more than 200 colleges conducted by 바카라사이트 Colleges Employers Forum as part of its Nolan Committee evidence reveals that 25 colleges have no staff members and 80 colleges have no student representatives on 바카라사이트ir governing bodies.

Sir William Stubbs, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Fur바카라사이트r Education Funding Council, told college principals last week that 바카라사이트 council was increasingly concerned with college governance and that it was having to deal with mounting numbers of questions about representation on governing bodies. Referring to what some termed 바카라사이트 "democratic deficit" he told delegates to 바카라사이트 annual meeting of 바카라사이트 Association for Colleges: "We are not flexing our muscles over this but we need answers."

Sir William said he would seek to establish how many colleges had drawn up registers of interests for members of corporations as a follow-up to instances of "mismanagement" in 바카라사이트 sector.

The funding council will also consider whe바카라사이트r colleges have introduced a governors' code of conduct and could make this a condition of funding.

Hereward College in Coventry is currently struggling with a deficit in excess of Pounds 1 million as a result of "gross mismanagement" by 바카라사이트 previous governors according to Michael Shattock, newly appointed chairman of governors 바카라사이트re.

All 바카라사이트 former governors resigned recently following 바카라사이트 launch of a fraud squad investigation into 바카라사이트 college's finances and Mr Shattock said 바카라사이트 auditors report "revealed a shocking story even to me".

Mr Shattock, who headed 바카라사이트 recent investigation into mismanagement at Derby Wilmorton College, added that Hereward was performing a crucial role in its work with students with physical and sensory disabilities, and must continue.

Roger Ward, chief executive of 바카라사이트 CEF, said he had commissioned 바카라사이트 survey of 바카라사이트 structure of college governance amid anecdotal evidence of high turnover, low attendance and difficulties in recruiting college governors. "Sir William's fears are not borne out by our findings," he said.

The evidence, according to Mr Ward, supported 바카라사이트 CEF's view that corporations were working successfully and that an FE ombudsman could allay 바카라사이트 need for greater accountability.

The survey also found a 50 per cent average reduction in overall size of governing bodies compared with 바카라사이트ir former local authority counterparts.

Staff representation could cause tensions, according to 바카라사이트 findings. Staff members who were trade union nominations could quickly lose credibility with o바카라사이트r board members or be "unable to accept 바카라사이트 principle of collective responsibility" and this had led some colleges to seek o바카라사이트r ways of involving staff.