College lecturers warn of threat to adult education

Jun 28 2007 by Liza Williams, Liverpool Daily Post

JOB cuts may compromise educational opportunity and put staff under unworkable pressure at a Liverpool college, unions warned last night.

Liverpool Community College, which has six centres across the city, is axing 36 teaching posts after the Government slashed its budget by £1.5m.

The Daily Post has learned that, in the past five weeks, 34 full-time teachers have volunteered for redundancy but the final two places, from the IT department, could be compulsory.

The cuts are across the board but have hit non-vocational courses and those centred around adult education hardest.

The college employs a total of around 1,000 staff, including academics and auxiliary workers.

Maire Daley, a representative for the Universities and Colleges Union (UCU) and a teaching education tutor, said: “We had a meeting on Friday and half our union members attended. They are all very angry and upset about the situation.

“It will put us all under a lot more pressure, lesson preparation time has been cut and full timers will now have to fill the gaps from part timers.

“It is difficult, some of the blame lies with the Government and some with the college for their management of the cuts.

“It will be of detriment to adult education in the area especially because that is where the cuts have hit hardest.

“People will find it much more difficult to access education in the city now because of the cut in resources.

“This not only stops people learning the specific knowledge courses offer but also prevents them gaining in confidence, going back into the work place and all the things associated with it.

“Similar cuts have recently hit London colleges but luckily Ken Livingstone has stepped in there. We in Liverpool do not have that option.”