UCU: Composite: Campaign to reverse cuts to the adult skills fund

Motion

Motion text: FESC notes:
1. The DfE has cut the Adult Skills Fund, limiting access to adult education. In
the early 2000s the adult education budget stood at £5.1 billion; it is now
£1.7 billion.
2. This cut will negatively impact both the FE college ASF and Adult Community
Education. It is a direct cut on classes, jobs and communities. This
instrumentalist approach will reduce a broad adult curriculum.
3. Providers such as South & City College Birmingham (SCCB), where adult
learners outnumber 16–18 students, will be severely impacted.
4. The government’s recent £300m funding announcement is targeted at young
people, excluding many FE colleges reliant on adult provision.
FESC believes:
a. These cuts threaten adult education and staff jobs.
b. A broad-based curriculum, not just skills training, must be protected.
FESC resolves:
i. To launch a Campaign for Adult Education to reverse the cuts.
ii. To organise lobbies, demonstrations, and media alerts.
iii. To work with WEA, TUC, ESOL campaigners, and other unions.
iv. To campaign for a broad, inclusive, fully funded curriculum

Proposing body: South and City College Birmingham, London FE regional committee