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.