Public spending on education falling at the fastest rate since the 1950s, report warns

The report says the biggest challenges ahead are for early years education, youth services and 16-19 education, where spending is set to fall by around 20% in real terms.
 
UCU said the news was a hammer blow for the country as applications to university and college are decreasing, but youth unemployment is hitting record levels. The union said now, more than ever, the government needed to invest in education and invest in the future of the country.
 
UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'Other countries are investing in education to compete in the global knowledge economy. The fact we are slashing funding is a real hammer blow and we will fall further behind.
 
'Young people that struggle to afford to stay in education have nowhere else to turn as youth unemployment approaches the one million mark. If anyone thinks investing in education is expensive, they should consider the cost of ignorance.'