Friday, February 5, 2016

Women's Views on News

Women's Views on News

Fight new threat to further education

Posted: 04 Feb 2016 03:10 AM PST

NUS, #FEunplugged, further education, ‘If I hadn't been able to return to education as a young mother I don't know what would have happened to me.’

The Further Education sector has seen cuts to EMA, the adult skills budget carved up, the slashing of ESOL funding, the axing of courses and adult student numbers crashing.

And now after all the successive cuts made to further education over the last five years, the government has decided it is time to "rationalise" the sector, and their ‘area review process’ aims to create "fewer, larger, more efficient and resilient" institutions and we expect a number of mergers to take place between colleges.

What are Area Reviews?

As a result of continual cuts, many FE institutions are in financial decline. The government has decided to run a process of mergers – basically cutting up and sticking colleges back together. They're calling the process 'Area Reviews'.

During these reviews, which take place over the next two years, we need to make sure students are heard loud and clear.

Big changes will be made and so the #FEunplugged campaign is here to help students be heard as the NUS is deeply concerned there is no support for students to help them have their say.

If colleges are merged, students may have to travel further for their courses, meaning they will be sacrificing more time and more money to access their education.

In some places local transport infrastructure is not good enough to get students across an area and students' learning could suffer if class sizes grow and resources have to be shared.

The #FEunplugged campaign means the NUS will be working with students' unions to run events and activities to find out what keeps students in college.

Campaigners will then encourage them to use this information to lobby MPs, local authorities and local service providers, such as bus companies, to make sure students aren't losing out when and if their colleges merge or close.

#FEUnplugged is also hosting a roundtable for student representatives in each area as it comes up for review.

A report from each of these roundtables is to be sent to the BIS area review board, so students' needs are heard during the decision-making process.

What can students' unions do?

Students' can join the #FEunplugged campaign in a number of ways:

Take action by urging students, students’ parents and members of the local community to contact their local MP today;

Share what is important to your students in further education, from affordable transport to tutor support on social media using our #FEunplugged hashtag;

Download the #FEunplugged campaigns guide for students' unions;

Download the guide to working with press during your Area Review;

Download the guide to lobbying your MP during the campaign; and

Check out the other resources available in our #FEunplugged campaign hub;

Shakira Martin, NUS Vice President for Further Education, said: "NUS is worried the process is being rushed and has not been designed with learners' best interests at heart.

"It's crucial that the student voice is listened to because colleges are lifelines to local communities.

"Going back to college as an adult saved my life and my family.

"If I hadn't been able to return to education as a young mother, and get the qualifications I did, I don't know what would have happened to me.

"Colleges need to meet students' needs so future generations can change their lives through further education in the same way I did."

To find out more click here.