Cash injection for colleges

The government wants to improve post-16 education

The "golden hello" scheme to recruit school teachers into shortage subjects, such as maths, science and information technology, is set to be extended into the further education sector.

Speaking at the official launch of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), the Education Secretary, David Blunkett, said £65m would be put towards FE lecturers and sixth form teachers' pay in 2001-2 - £15m more than originally announced.

No-one should be under any illusion that this resolves the pay crisis

Paul Mackney, Natfhe

A further £100m would be made available in 2002-3 and £135m in 2003-4 - which would amount to an increase of £2,000 for most of the profession by 2003-4, Mr Blunkett said.

But the lecturers' union, Natfhe, said the sum was "woefully inadequate" and would do little to end the disparity between school teachers' and lecturers' pay.

The union's general secretary, Paul Mackney, said: "FE has been starved of cash for so long that we're inclined to be pathetically grateful for any additional money on offer."

"But no-one should be under any illusion that this resolves the pay crisis," he warned.

Raising standards

Mr Blunkett said more money would also be pumped into the LSC's budget - which stands at £5.5bn for this year - taking it to £6bn in 2002-3 and to £6.4bn in 2003-4.

Approximately £100m was to be directed into encouraging more youngsters to stay on in education after the age of 16 and £67m was to be allocated for adult education.

The LSC, which replaces the Further Education Funding Council and the network of Training and Enterprise Councils, is charged with raising standards in post-16 education.

This will give a lot more people the chance of a much better life and will improve the skills and productivity of the nation's workforce

John Monks, TUC

The organisation starts its work on Monday by promoting "bite size" literacy, numeracy and computer courses.

The aim is to encourage up to 50,000 adults to improve their basic skills without signing up to a long period of study.

The courses will take place in "non-traditional" venues, such as pubs, sport centres and department stores, as well as adult education centres and colleges.

Mr Blunkett said: "The council has a huge agenda to make a powerful and sustained effort to raise levels of skills and knowledge to world class standards."

The LSC's chairman, Bryan Sanderson, said the organisation aimed to "make a difference to the individual learner".

General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress, John Monks, said: "This will give a lot more people the chance of a much better life and will improve the skills and productivity of the nation's workforce."

Fear of closure

But head teachers are fearful the government has a "hidden agenda" to shut down small school sixth forms with the introduction of the LSC.

Schools are quite fearful that there is a hidden agenda of favouring FE colleges at the expense of sixth forms

David Hart, NAHT

David Hart, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: "Schools are quite fearful that there is a hidden agenda of favouring FE colleges at the expense of sixth forms, particularly those of small or medium size."

Heads were assured by Mr Blunkett at the Secondary Heads Association annual conference in Newport that small sixth forms were "safe".

His words were welcomed by the general secretary of SHA, John Dunford.

But, Mr Dunford added: "There's a good deal of nervousness about the future, partly fear of the unknown and the fact that the councils lack school expertise, and partly about funding levels."

The shadow education secretary, Theresa May, said: "Is this the best the Learning and Skills Council can come up with?

"While school sixth forms are worried about their future and the nation is crying out for skills, the LSC's first priority is lessons in the pub."