Colleges fear incorporation

THE NEW Labour Government is to press ahead with incorporation for Northern Ireland's 17 further education colleges and institutes - but almost a year later than originally planned.

In his first major decision on education in the province, new minister Tony Worthington said the colleges will become self-governing from next April.

He also pledged a further Pounds 1.5 million in this financial year to help colleges prepare for the move. Even so, his announcement sparked surprise and concern.

The change had been expected to be implemented from September, but pressure on the last parliamentary timetable made it impossible to legislate in time.

Nor was time the main problem. Earlier this year colleges said that about half were ill-prepared to meet the initial target dates and the possibility of a High Court test case under transfer of undertakings legislation had been mooted.

Tom McKee, regional official of the NASUWT union that represents about 400 lecturers in FE colleges in the province, voiced strong concern over the implications of the go-ahead decision.

"Experience of this initiative in the last two or three years in England would suggest that it will lead to college closures," he said.

"Ten per cent of FE colleges in England and Wales have been bankrupted and many others have difficulty in operating a full range of courses because of financial constraint."

But Mr Worthington added: "Colleges are ready for the new responsibilities which self-governance will bring." Incorporated status means colleges will gain responsibility for their own budgets. "They have done much to prepare themselves for the change. There is no reason why they cannot now progress to manage their own affairs," he said.

Colleges had a pivotal role in educating both academic and vocational students, but Mr Worthington said the Government wanted to give priority to vocational courses. However, Mr McKee said: "If this is to be delivered, in practice it would require an expansion of further education - not a contraction."