A recent poll asking the opinion of 43 heads of further education colleges in England has discovered that they expect their adult learning budgets to be cut by as much as 25% in this financial year.

The Association of Colleges study found that many heads expect to see 16% of their adult learning courses cut, meaning that essential numeracy and literacy courses as well as many A-level and GCSE courses for adults courses may close completely.

The Government did indeed pledge to spend more than £3.5 billion on further education in 2010 / 2011 however, they also stated that they would cut £340 million from this sector in the same period.

Whilst we all understand that the Government is under huge pressures to reduce public sector spending, cutting funding for these essential courses can only be detrimental to the UK’s economic recovery in the longer term. Its important for young adults to have access to these courses in order to improve their career prospects so not rely on the state for unemployment and / or housing benefits etc.

Students who started university this autumn are likely to graduate with approx £23,000 of debt according to a recently published survey by Push Student Debt. 2,024 students were interviewed all at different stages of their degree courses. The study found that each student averaged approx £5,000 of debt per year and unfortunately this figure is rising. Interestingly,The National Union of Students also just completed a similar study and blames some degree courses have ‘higher hidden costs’ for equipment or books which was part of the reason.

Debt levels vary between regions and the universities: Students in England were found to have have the highest levels of debt, an average of £5,271 for each year. In London, some students are estimating that their debts will be closer to £30,000 on completion of their courses. In Northern Ireland, student debt levels have risen by 30% from low levels five years ago and are averaging at £4,324 currently. The Welsh are not far behind, averaging £4,021 per year. In Scotland a different pattern is emerging – debt levels have actually fallen. Students in Scotland own on average £2,194 for each year of study. A reason for this however, is that if they are Scottish or from another EU country outside the UK the Government pays their tuition fees and students no longer have to pay back a graduate endowment after finishing their course. Tuition fees in the rest of the UK are to be reviewed.

A recent article in the Guardian Newspaper reported that Up to 40,000 potential students could miss out on going to university this year unless the government funds more places urgently.

The university body which currently represents ex-polytechnics, Million+, has stated that funding for additional university places is desperately required and has suggested that ministers obtain a loan from the European Investment Bank.

Million+ has estimated that this year there will be 643,000 applicants for full time university places, which is an increase of 53,000 on 2008 figures (This figure however does not include the thousands of additional applications for part time students).

Ministers cut 5,000 planned additional university places this year in a bid to reduce the costs of providing financial support for those students. Therefore there is now a situation developing whereby there are more students wishing to enrol on courses than there are places available.  This, combined with many older students wishing to ride out the recession by completing a degree course could lead to an estimated shortfall of 40,000 places according to a statement by Pam Tatlow, Chief Executive of Million+.