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Further education bodies call for Budget investment

3 November 2017

In a joint letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, ten bodies representing further education staff, students and providers have called for extra funding to ensure a "stable and well-resourced further education sector" which can meet different needs and ambitions.

The letter, sent ahead of the Budget on 22 November, warns that cuts have reduced the availability of learning opportunities for young people and adults, leading to the loss of over a million adult learners and thousands of staff from the sector in recent years.

It goes on to welcome additional spending on technical education, but says that "investment in technical learning alone is not sufficient to reverse the impact of these cuts or to meet the country's skills needs".

It urges government to fund a wider range of opportunities to help people progress "into higher level learning or employment, build confidence and resilience, develop basic skills or return to education in later life".

The letter is co-signed by the University and College Union, UNISON, the Association of Colleges, the National Union of Students, the Association of School and College Leaders, the National Education Union, Holex, the Third Sector National Learning Alliance, the Learning and Work Institute and Voice.

Sally Hunt, general secretary of the University and College Union, said: "Cuts to further education have closed off vital learning opportunities, putting a cap on aspiration for too many people. To boost productivity and social mobility, the government must now ensure that the further education sector is properly funded to deliver whatever skills people need to get on in life."

David Prentis, general secretary of UNISON, said: "Years of underfunding have created a harsh financial climate that's forced colleges to merge, shed staff and limit courses simply to survive. If the UK is to have a strong economy in future, the government should be encouraging the next generation of working people, not restricting students' ability to thrive."

Stephen Evans, chief executive of the Learning and Work Institute, said: "Investment in learning for adults is vital for our economic prosperity and social mobility. We need further action to reverse declines in the number of adults in learning. This includes more investment and finding new ways to engage people and deliver learning. This has perhaps never been more important."

David Hughes, chief executive of the Association of Colleges, said: "Further education has been starved of the investment needed to support young people and adults gain the skills they need for successful careers. Without new investment now we will see more employers failing to fill skilled jobs and even more people unable to fulfil their ambitions and talents."

Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said: "The government must reverse its cuts to funding for 16-19 education and adult learning.  If it's serious about having a strategy for the skills required for a shifting labour market and strong post-Brexit economy, it must put its money where its mouth is and fund this vital sector."

Deborah Lawson, general secretary of Voice, said: "At a time of skills shortages and economic uncertainty because of Brexit, it is essential that the government invests in further education for the future, for the sake of young people, adult learners and the economy."

Last updated: 2 November 2017

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