Campaigners deliver petition against further education cuts to Downing Street

© Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk

The petition calls on the government to rethink cuts to adult learning in England for 2015-16, and invest properly in lifelong learning. The #loveFE campaign, which launched the petition, is supported by over 20 organisations.

The campaign group was formed in February following the announcement that funding for non-apprenticeship learning in England would be cut by up to 24% in 2015-16. UCU has branded the cut an 'act of willful vandalism' and the Association of Colleges has said that further cuts could effectively make adult education a 'thing of the past'.

© Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk

The petition handover took place just days after a leading expert in education warned that the cuts to further education will put Britain's supply of skilled workers at risk.

UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'The support for this petition demonstrates how much people value adult learning in the UK. It is crucial for people's life chances and has tangible social and economic benefits for both individuals and the taxpayer.

'Today, we are sending a clear message to government that these damaging funding cuts need to be halted, and that proper investment in lifelong learning must be a priority for the future.'