Lecturers and students protested against cuts to adult education at Coleg y Cymoedd’s Ystrad Mynach campus on November 17.
The demonstration was part of lecturer’s union UCU’s day of action across Wales to highlight the effect of further education cuts on adult learners.
Union members, students and non-unionised workers gathered at the gates of the campus during their lunch hour.
Protests also took place at the colleges campuses in Nantgarw, Rhymney and elsewhere.
UCU officer Margaret Phelan said: “They’ve cut staffing to the bone, they can’t cut it any more.
“If they cut it any more we are going to lose further education as we currently know and understand it, and if that happens there will not be a facility to train the workforce of the future.”
Coleg y Cymoedd, Ystrad Mynach Campus Gate Protest. #FEforeveryone pic.twitter.com/Rou3tAmqUL
— Clare Gibbs (@clare1839) November 17, 2015
Coleg y Cymoedd saw a cut of over 8% to its budget this year and union members are concerned further cuts will be announced in the draft Welsh budget next month.
They claim evening courses for adults have been slashed as a result, with part-time access to education courses axed completely.
UCU claim half of part-time adult education across Wales has disappeared, affecting 800 jobs and leading to voluntary redundancies.
Ms Phelan said if compulsory redundancies were on the agenda, lecturers would “absolutely” be balloted for strike action.
At the protest, Paul Davies, Vice Chair of UCU at Coleg-y-Cymoedd Ystrad Mynach, said as well as course closures, workload is a big issue for lecturers.
He said: “Further education is key. It’s not just about education it’s also about social mobility, it’s about bringing around the end of poverty. It’s about giving people the opportunities that they might need later on in life.
“We’ve already had huge amounts of cuts to further education this year and we’re worried about next year. There’s only so much you can do on so little money.
“It’s the quality of education, one of the answers might be to make teachers do more on less pay but that is only going effect the students themselves, who are here and realise if further cuts happen they do directly effect the students.”
UCU Coleg y Cymoedd Branch Chair, Clare Gibbs, said: “Attacking adult education is misguided morally and economically.
“Any government, whether in Cardiff or Westminster, should be ashamed of writing off a section of society because they didn’t succeed at 18.
“To deny adult learners the opportunity to reskill and upskill in a period of austerity and economic uncertainty is absurd.”
The Principal of Coleg y Cymoedd, Judith Evans, supported the demonstrators.
She said: “Since 2012 we have seen a reduction in funding of over 15%, this has impacted on the provision that we can offer our communities.
“Whilst we appreciate the Welsh Government’s budget position, it is important that further education is recognised as providing skilled individuals that contribute to the needs of the economy.”
James Pritchard attended the protest on behalf of Caerphilly AM Jeff Cuthbert.
He said: “There’s concerns about the effect of cuts on adult education and I’ve offered for Jeff to meet with the union to discuss where we go from here.
“It’s an extremely difficult financial climate with the cuts coming through from Westminster but we’ll have a good discussion and take the union’s concerns on board.”
Mr Pritchard said he could not speculate on the scale of further education cuts in the draft Welsh Government budget that is due next month.
He said: “It’s inevitable that as further cuts come in from Westminster, the Welsh Government have got to look at things in light of their declining budget.”
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “We have taken steps to protect funding for 16-19 year olds on the face of swingeing cuts to our budget by the UK Government.
“We will continue to do all we can to safeguard funding to ensure young people have the skills they need to start their lives and for adults continue to develop their skills and support our growing economy.”
I agree with some of the sentiments expressed above, adult education is essential to the economy. Many children receive a poor education at school or are late developers, who don’t do well at school age but flower in later life when they attend college.
We are all aware of central government cuts but the Welsh Assemby can play a part in protecting further education colleges by resisting the temptation to increase the number of AMs in Cardiff. Instead they could spend our money on items such as adult education that actually benefit the people of Wales.
What about the pay-rise Whittle and Cuthbert both voted in favour of?
Yes, there should be no pay rise for AMs until around 2020. If any members baulk at this then let thewm stand down. There are plenty of capable people out there who would like a £54,000 per annum, plus expenses, plus perks, job.
subsidised Welsh Assembly Off Licence, cheap beer and wine, providing you buy it and take it home, mnd boggling car allowances and expenses, meal allowances, subsidised dinning rooms, and if you are of a certain seniority you even get a public provided car and driver.
I take it you will still vote for Plaid Cymru at the next election? The likely outcome is a Labour-Plaid government so voting for either party is an approval of what happens in the WAG. Will you be voting for a different party?
For number of reasons I do not concure with your assertion in respect to the make up of the next Welsh Government. You appear to be ignoring the current strong role of the Tory party in presently being the official Welsh Assembly Government Opposition and the starting point,of each party, in Mays election, it requires very little movement in party representation to take a very large slice of influence after the election. i.e. seats lost here and there picked up be other parties, including the regional lists. and including UKIP Candidates who figure nowhere in the Assembly at the moment.
I will vote for the `candidate` which I support, including the party which best represents my `Class`, and demographic.
I certainly have no intention of being influence and seduced by lies and smoke and mirrors candidates and parties.
Dean, Does your comment mean Whittle and Jeff Cuthbert voted FOR the huge increase in salary for themselves? or are you posing the question?
Jeff Cuthbert leaves the job next May, and Lindsay Whittle appears to `hope` he will be elected back to the Assembly next May, otherwise he also leaves, Perhaps the rise in pay has some beneficial effect on the Fat Pension fund all AM`s enjoy?
Both voted for the pay rises.
http://www.senedd.assembly.wales/documents/b10010/Votes%20Summary%20Wednesday%2011-Nov-2015%2013.30%20Plenary.pdf?T=9
I see this is another case of ‘blame the Tories,’ It did not take Labour long to trot out this line when it is Labour cuts the people are protesting against.
The WAG can cut funding in other areas to protect funding here. Example, cut funding to help support businesses, and cut funding that props up the Welsh language; pretty much a dead language anyway.
Or just cut the assembly altogether. That should free up a chunk of cash, we could sell the building as well. This should provide us with a decent injection of money for the many needy causes. Education, policing, public housing, infer structure repair etc.
Hear, hear! I would happily cut the assembly but it is unlikely to happen. All parties are committed to devolution.
While cuts to Adult Education are to be lamented perhaps the college needs to look to its own activities and attitudes and take a more commercial stance to adult education. I recently enrolled on an AAT evening course at Coleg Y Cymoedd at my own expense. The enrolment procedure was woeful and I very nearly gave up and chose a commercial provider instead. The course itself is OK, with one good tutor and one who is OK, but the quality of the lecturing and education isn’t inspiring. My guess is that I’m not the only person paying for their own education who is disappointed with the service. Perhaps by looking to improve their procedures and their offering to paying customers they will be able to support free adult education for those who need it.
Could I ask which course you chose, or, understandably, if you prefer, was the course vocational or recreational in its nature? I’m just curious as to the purpose you chose adult education and in what general field.
AAT is an accountancy/bookkeeping course – entirely vocational.
Which demonstrates the complete disconnect in government thinking. Jobs are short on the ground, jobs are becoming more technical, people need to upskill so we can compete in an international market. Answer: Cuts to adult education. They’re not even thinking in 4 year terms anymore.