Staff & Students Fear Coleg Gwent Cuts

Funding cuts at Coleg Gwent could see 6,000 less learners across its campuses.

The college has announced it needs to save £5.7million and is looking at getting rid of up to 130 jobs and stopping part time courses.

Staff, Trade Unions and students were told yesterday.

Scott is on a Welding and Fabrication course at the Newport campus:

“It’s given me a lot of confidence and it’s shown be the career I want to follow.

“I think it’s bad it’s being knocked on the head.”

The college is now in a 45 day consultation period and will be holding talks with staff and unions to try and avoid any compulsory redundancies.

Coleg Gwent Prinicipal Jim Bennett says he hopes to look at different options too:

“I’m upset for staff, for our learners and communities and ultimately the Welsh economy.

“They’re the ones that are going to suffer. “

A Welsh Government spokesperson said:

“The UK Government has cut the Welsh Government’s budget by £1.4bn in real terms since 2010.

“We have been clear about the financial challenges this has presented and the difficult decisions we’ve had to make.   

“Further Education colleges are making plans for operating with a reduced budget for 2015/16 and we will work closely with colleges on the potential impacts.    

“It is important, however, to recognise that we are protecting FE funding for 16-18 year olds as we appreciate the importance of further education in the drive to reduce the number of young people not in employment, education or training. 

“We have been open with FE colleges in our discussions with them. It is now more important than ever that we focus not just on the resources that are available but how we use them and what we achieve.”