Kirsty Williams AM

£662,000 for Post-16 in Mid Wales inadequate

The Welsh Government has today caved into pressure from FE providers, councils and AMs to announce further funding for Post-16 funding in Wales. Powys AM's Kirsty Williams and Mick Bates have described the action as 'overdue and inadequate'; with Mid Wales receiving only £662 thousand of the additional 8.9million

Kirsty Williams, AM for Brecon and Radnorshire said: "Of course this additional funding is welcome but I am fearful that this money will be too little too late. The £662, 000 for Mid Wales comes nowhere near Powys' £844, 000 shortfall.

"I understand it is good news for Powys that they will be getting the full £662 thousand sum for mid Wales but a 0% allocation will be very bad news for Ceredigion which is also included in the region.

"It is an insult to the sector's professionals and students to say that this money is being given as a result of the economic downturn - the FE sector has been much beleaguered and under funded for too long and this financing is needed with or without the recession. It is true to say that we need greater investment in skills and FE to see us through the recession, but the Government is falling far short of this: they have first cut the budget and then announced so called 'additional' money which does not even bring it back up to the original level. It is disgraceful that our schools and FE colleges are being put in this impossible position; where there is reduced funding despite ever growing pressures.

Mick Bates, AM for Montgomeryshire said: "This additional funding for Post-16 funding is very welcome and I am pleased that the Minister has listened to the concerns raised when Kirsty and I took a delegation of Head Teachers and Council representatives from Powys to meet to discuss the impact on Powys of the cut to Post-16 education funding.

"Despite this it seems that the Education Department is in disarray. If we are to continue to develop a highly skilled workforce in Wales, we need the finance in place to do so. Yet the current budget reflects a complete lack of planning and this further funding for Post-16 education is overdue and inadequate.

"Once again it appears that rural areas are being neglected, with Mid Wales receiving less than one fifth of the amount that South West and South East Wales have each been allocated, despite higher costs of service delivery. It is crucial that the Minister understands the particular challenges which face rural areas and once again reviews the concerns raised by Powys representatives, to ensure that FE institutions and sixth forms across the county receive a fair settlement."

Notes:

• Distribution of additional £8.93m by region:

North Wales £1065 974

Mid Wales £662 112

South West Wales £3656 729

South East Wales £3549 425

Total £8934 240

WRITTEN STATEMENT BY THE

WELSH ASSEMBLY GOVERNMENT

Title:

£8.9m for Further Education in Wales

Date:

15 April 2009

By:

John Griffiths, Deputy Minister for Skills

I am today announcing an additional £8.93 million for Further Education Institutions (FEIs) and sixth forms.

The funding is in direct response to the economic downturn to support those colleges and local authorities in the post-16 sector most affected by the recent budget settlement. The effect of this additional post-16 allocation is that, in almost every case, FEIs and local education authorities will be funded at or above the same level for (09/10) as they were for 08/09.

With the economic downturn being likely to lead to an increase in demand for post-16 training and adult training places, the extra support will provide funding for at least a further 2,500 places for young people and adults at FE institutions and school sixth forms.

Although a difficult budget settlement this year has meant having to make difficult choices, the Assembly Government has worked closely with the post-16 sector to provide as much assistance as possible in what have been and continue to be challenging times. We have listened to the concerns of the sector and the issues they face in light of the recession. The additional funding I am announcing today indicates the Assembly Government's commitment to supporting the post-16 sector so that they can deliver the necessary knowledge and skills for the upturn when it comes.

It is vitally important that the educational provision in Wales meets the present and future needs of its people, communities, employers and economy.

Much of our recent discussion has inevitably been focussed on the impact of the economic downturn. I'm proud that the Assembly Government has been able to put skills-based measures in place to try to reduce the impact of the downturn on individuals and on businesses. Programmes such as ProAct and ReAct have attracted attention far beyond Wales. I'm grateful to FE Colleges and other training providers for responding so quickly to the availability of these programmes and for meeting the needs of those affected by the economic downturn.

But we must not lose sight of the future needs of the economy - and so we remain committed to the Skills that Work for Wales strategy for that future. The Further Education sector has a central role in helping to train the future workforce and to further develop the skills of those in work or looking for work. School 6th forms also have a key role to play in the future education of our young people. I'm looking forward to seeing the reconfiguration proposals coming forward in response to our Transformation framework because I expect these to be the basis for significant improvements to our post-16 provision in the future.

Our future strategy - and the additional funding we have announced today - will ensure that our post-16 FE institutions and sixth forms across Wales can continue the excellent work they are doing in developing the highly-educated, highly-skilled workforce that Wales needs for the future.

• Last month Kirsty and Mick led a delegation of Powys Council representatives and Head teachers to meet with the Minister for Skills where they raised concerns about the 7.4% cut to the Post 16 education funding and its devastating impact on Powys. Whilst the Minister refused to act upon the overall deficit, he agreed to review the Special Educational Needs (SEN) shortfall - which left Powys receiving only 96% of its allocation.