The UCU Left is a national organisation of University and College Union activists. It is committed to ensuring that the new union has a democratic structure through which members can determine policy, and elected officers and professional officials can be held accountable. It seeks to defend educational equality, and to oppose the consequences of neo-liberal marketisation. It is opposed to all forms of racism, sexism, oppression and imperialism.

FURTHER EDUCATION
STOP THE CUTS IN ADULT EDUCATION!  
Download UCU Left leaflet (pdf)    


Lifelong Learning for All - Stop the Cuts in Adult Education!

The government that speaks of the need for “lifelong learning” has launched one of the severest blows to Adult Education seen for many years. A host of changes and attacks on Further Education as a public service are under way.

Cuts in LSC funding have meant that in many colleges and local authority services basic skills courses for adults such as ESOL, Literacy, Numeracy, Computing courses, outreach work, as well as leisure and recreational courses, have been cut.


UCU branches in several colleges have launched campaigns

  • Lambeth College mounted a press campaign and organised a well publicised march through the borough and recently organised a very successful Adult Education campaigning conference.


  • City and Islington College contacted local organisations, spoke at the local mosque and held a major rally during Adult Learners' Week. Reps from the college met with Bill Rammell, Minister for Lifelong Learning, who said he would 'look into the matter', so far with no results.


  • London Region organised a rally and lobby of parliament.

More cuts on the way

In many other colleges there have been redundancies, cutting important provision for vulnerable and disadvantaged groups in our society. Other moves in the pipeline include:
  • More cuts in adult provision in particular ESOL E1 and E2 as the LSCs prioritise L2 provision but remove the first rungs on the ladder to get there!


  • 'Contestability', newspeak for tendering and privatisation. Now colleges will have to put out 10% of provision for tender to other colleges or private agencies!


  • Higher fees, in particular for so called 'leisure courses' such as the arts. What happened to education for culture and the creation of community?


  • Increased emphasis on 'specialisation' and work orientated training.

Yes, there must be vocational work in FE, but what this will mean is a narrow focus often on dubious 'preparing for work' provision and stripping away content that calls for a more critical engagement with ideas.


What can we do about it?

  • With a membership of over 120,000 educationalists we need to come out fighting to protect jobs campaign for a vision of Further Education that offers true life long learning for all.


  • Encourage branch campaigns to build links with the local community.


  • Reinvigorate regional links and organise campaigns across regions.


  • Nationally, UCU needs to highlight the attacks upon Further and Adult Education and organise a fight back.

New Labour was elected on a slogan of 'Education, Education, Education' - we must force them to honour that promise with a fully funded public service for life long education in our colleges.
 
Copyright © UCU Left
Webmaster: Mark Campbell