Labour to oppose college cash cuts

PROTECTING college-education funding in Oldham will be a top priority for Labour during tomorrow’s full council meeting.

Oldham Council’s deputy leader Councillor Shoab Akhtar will propose opposing another round of cuts and their significant impact on colleges and sixth forms.

The Education Funding Agency has announced a reduction in funding to schools and colleges for all students who are 18 at the start of the academic year. From September, Oldham’s 18 year olds can expect to receive only £3,300 of course funding, around £800 less than before.

Around 460 Oldham College students and 229 at Oldham Sixth Form College stand to lose over £500,000.

Councillor Akhtar said: “Though it is typical to start a final year of sixth form or college at 17 and finish at 18, there are lots of reasons why this is not an option: illness, disability, family problems, money problems and even homelessness.

“Of the 68,000 students who will be affected nationally, 14,000 are disabled and 24,000 are from disadvantaged households. Aren’t these the young people who need the most support?”

Councillor Akhtar calls for Education Secretary Michael Gove to reconsider the cut, and asks the council to write to local MPs to ask for their support in opposition to it.