Four Welsh colleges of further education face cash cuts of more than 5 per cent in 1998-99.
The Further Education Funding Council for Wales figures reveal that the biggest loser is the largest college, Gwent Tertiary. After a scandal-hit year it now has the fresh worry of losing nearly Pounds 2 million, a cut of just under 8 per cent compared with 1997-98.
John Andrews, chief executive of FEFCW, said the other colleges facing cuts of more than 5 per cent - Afan, Glan Hafren and Lysfasi - had been hit by under-recruitment in a year when the standard unit of funding went down by 5 per cent. Colleges will receive Pounds 163.5 million, up 1.5 per cent on 1997-98, in respect of 6.2 per cent more funded full-time equivalent students.
Professor Andrews said he hoped the outcome of the comprehensive spending review would avert further cuts projected for 1999-2000. An additional Welsh Office grant of Pounds 3.5 million for basic skills training may ease some pressures this year.
The 1998-99 allocations are the first to take account of performance data from the Individualised Student Record. Some money has also been allocated for institutions who can show they are tackling the council's priorities on participation, social exclusion and contribution to prosperity. These priorities, and strong recruitment, explain the increases of more than 10 per cent given to colleges such as Swansea, Ystrad Mynach and St Davids.
WELSH FUNDING ALLOCATIONS 1998/99
Institution Pounds *
Aberdare 2,187,825
Afan 2,628,878
Barry 6,172,651
Bridgend 6,990,939
CCTA 9,996,539
Ceredigion 2,716,418
Deeside 6,178,954
Glan Hafren 8,652,012
Gorseinon 4,147,373
Gwent 23,117,424
Harlech 701,575
Llandrillo 9,542,123
Llysfasi 1,565,778
Meirion-Dwyfor 4,071,536
Menai 7,955,247
Merthyr Tydfil 3,179,762
Neath 8,540,5
Pembrokeshire 6,179,650
Pencoed 1,465,795
Pontypridd 8,773,088
Powys 5,165,616
St Davids 2,252,182
Institution Pounds *
Swansea 9,845,754
WCoH 1,711,175
WEA North 375,771
WEA South 950,9
Yale 10,078,089
YMCA 181,512
Ystrad Mynach 4,567,899
UCW Aberystwyth 495,659
UWIC 649,976
UWC Newport 410,433
SIHE 225,189
UW Bangor WfA 482,351
UW Cardiff WfA 301,634
Glamorgan Univ WfA 150,821
NEWI WfA 9,907
UW Swansea WfA 203,469
Trinity WfA 25,081
Sponsored Organisations 241,690
TOTAL 163,088,328
Source - WHEFC
Note: *Provisional figure. Arithmetical inconsistencies may arise due to rounding. West Cardiff Collegium and Cwmtawe figures excluded.