Branch Discussion - "Adult Education in Bolton"

This is the text of a discussion by members of the Heaton & Lostock Labour Party which took place at our Branch Meeting on Wednesday 12th April. The views are solely those of the members expressing them.

There was a general discussion about Adult Education in the borough, especially the situation at Bolton College. It was reported that the Principal had announced that the Government has cut £1.5 million from the budget and 50 staff would be made redundant. The Clarence Street and Farnworth & New Bury Centres will be closed.

Ruth has been approached by one of the teaching unions and has written to them saying that the statement from the Principal is "pre-emptive" that the cut in expenditure will be approximately £300,000 rather than the £1.5 million mentioned and ways are being looked at to mitigate the effects of any cut in funding.

The closure of the Clarence Street premises will have a profound effect on people with "special needs" and vulnerable groups who use it a great deal. It is theorised that there is a plan to build on the car park opposite the University main campus and that the emphasis is to offer more "sexy" courses (whatever that means!).

Any cut in adult education would be so that there is greater provision for 14 - 25 year olds. However, it would mean that adult courses would become much more expensive and members present felt strongly that this was against the principles of Labour's "life long learning" policy.

It was pointed out that there are more administrative than teaching staff at Bolton College. Leilia said that she had never been more at odds with Labour's policy on education, especially the "commercial sponsorship" of secondary schools and she expressed great concern about what is happening to post-16 education, especially since the take up of further education amongst post-16 year olds in the borough is so poor. She reminded those present that there is no post-16 provision at all for the whole southern part of the borough and no progress has been made in improving the provision in the last 2 - 3 years. Indeed the Book Learning Partnership is over £2 million in debt.

The general opinion was that post-16 education in Bolton is "a shambles". There are "A" level courses, of course, but very little level 1 and 2 provision.

Graham thanked all those who had participated in the discussion and he and Anne were thanked for hosting the meeting and for their hospitality. The meeting was declared closed at 9:20 pm.

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