FE is crucial all year round, not just at recession time – Welsh Lib Dems (Clwyd West Liberal Democrats)

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Clwyd West Liberal Democrats <info@libdems.org.uk>

FE is crucial all year round, not just at recession time – Welsh Lib Dems

February 3, 2009 12:00 AM
Originally published by Welsh Liberal Democrats

Welsh Lib Dems will today table amendments to an opposition motion on the drastic cuts facing FE, urging the Assembly to ensure Further Education is properly equipped to up-skill the nation at the end of the recession.

Shadow Education Minister Jenny Randerson AM and Shadow Minister for Local Government, Peter Black AM will warn the Government that their unprecedented cut in the FE settlement, together with the need to maintain pay parity with teachers will hamper attempts to raise skills across Wales.

Jenny Randerson said:

"We are in a very dangerous situation, where around 70% of the 2020 workforce is already of working age. The Government has to ask itself where the extra skills the economy needs will come from if a large percentage of the future workforce are past the stage of formal education.

"Everyone accepts that FE institutions play a huge part in skills training and lifelong learning, as well of course as providing opportunities for many people in the most deprived areas to improve their qualifications. It seems absolutely barmy to be slashing budgets at this stage.

Peter Black AM added:

"When you take everything together, including promised pay increases, inflation and the negative settlement, the real cut is probably not far off 10%.

"There is a lack of ambition from this Labour-Plaid government. For all the warm words on creating a skilled and versatile workforce, swinging cuts like these mean it just will not happen."