Adult-learning jobs to go as funding cut

UP to 17 jobs are being cut as Government funding for adult education classes in Oldham is being slashed by a quarter over three years.

Lifelong learning bosses are not able to say yet how it will affect courses.

It will continue to meet its priorities which include basic English and maths, IT, employability programmes and vocational qualifications such as childcare, youth work, teacher training and food hygiene.

And a range of non-qualification courses, from languages to arts and crafts — will also be available.

The service’s grant from the Skills Funding Agency has been cut by £417,738 from £3.66 million this academic year to £3.243 million in 2011/12. There will be a reduction of 25 per cent over three years.

It also has to find another £186,000 this year to deal with things such as rising costs.

The staffing restructure will save £515,182 and the council says that most of the posts, which are going by July 31, are senior and middle managers. They are also making cuts to creche, community development, caretakers and marketing staff.

People are able to apply for voluntary redundancies and Councillor Hugh McDonald, cabinet member responsible for leisure and culture, said: “The restructure of our lifelong learning service has been forced by a 25 per cent reduction nationally in the grant to the Skills Funding Agency.

“Oldham’s lifelong learning service was the first in England to be rated ‘outstanding’ in every area by Ofsted and we are focussed on maintaining that high standard.

“Potentially up to 17 posts are affected by the restructure but these will impact chiefly on senior and middle managers and will ensure that key curriculum priorities, frontline delivery and quality are maintained.

“A range of qualification and non-qualification courses will continue to be delivered during 2011/12 across the borough in lifelong learning centres, schools, children’s centres and other venues, to maintain strong partnership working across local communities.”