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There are plans to cut bureaucracy and demands for repeated quality inspections in colleges and training and enterprise councils (TECs). There are as many as six different external quality checks and the aim is to bring about a common framework with TECs and colleges being the first to experience the results. Colleges will not be quickly moved to self-assessment although internal quality assurance will take on more significance, and TECs will face more radical changes.

League tables for the UK's further education colleges tend to under-represent the volume of work of most colleges and are therefore meaningless, according to many college principals. Most do not feel that the league tables have significantly affected the ways in which parents and students choose a further education college. They are instead emphasising plans by the Further Education Funding Council for new performance indicators which give better information about relative performance.

The UK's Association of Colleges plans to use conferences as a way of ensuring that college managers and governors have the opportunity to discuss key issues and determine policy. These conferences will be along the same lines as those which already operate in the US, where politicians are put under considerable pressure. Delegates at the recent first annual conference of the Association of Colleges placed considerable emphasis on improving opportunities for consultation and discussion.

George Mardle, chairman of the board of governors of Stoke-on-Trent College in the United Kingdom, resigned after being voted off the board by fellow governors who are thought to believe Mardle allowed senior management too much liberty. Surveys of the college staff showed low morale due to the tyrannical management style in the college. The surveys revealed complaints about the director of the college, Neil Preston. Mardle issued his own statement concerning the allegations.

The UK further education system may be complying with the letter of the law but it is still failing to meet the real needs of students with special needs, according to a report by the Tomlinson Committee on further education provision for students with learning difficulties or disabilities. The report makes over 50 recommendations to improve the quality of further education for special needs students, as well as widening participation by such students. The proposals include a huge staff development programme; new funding; and support for colleges in planning their special needs provision.

The Tomlinson Committee on special needs provision in the English further education sector is set to recommend more funding to allow colleges to offer a wider range of courses for disabled people. The report, to be published in Sep. 1996, recommends reinterpreting strict funding rules which the committee says have led to many disabled students taking inappropriate qualifications. The report also recommends a mass staff training programme. The recommendations of the committee are aimed at helping more students with special needs have access to further education.

Over 60,000 young people are expected to join the government's modern apprenticeship training scheme in 1996. In its fourth year of league tables encompassing 74 TECs results show that 65% of leavers gain a full national vocational qualification with 40% finding jobs within 13 weeks of leaving. The lowest spending TECs often show the best results but achievement rates and costs vary.

After years of higher education with resultant qualifications graduates are finding difficulty in becoming employed in permanent jobs. Employers looking for staff want experience, rather than pay a higher wage to a graduate. As a consequence, the TEC is funding the Graduate Fast Track to Management programme which, over 15 weeks, trains unemployed graduates in vocational skills leading to a national vocational qualification. Eighteen of the first 28 to take part in the scheme are in paid employment. Further programmes are planned.

Of 460 colleges in the UK only 318 have supplied data to the Further Education Funding Council who are compiling the first performance tables for further education. Information due for analysis in February 1996, will now be published in November 1996, later than anticipated and some colleges' data will not be recorded, though over 400 are expected to appear.

Sadie Walton is the first female disabled principal in Britain and has a practical approach to her own disability. She believes that the Tomlinson report on special needs in further education should address practical issues, such as identifying and removing the barriers that prevent disabled people from succeeding in education. She is committed to the colleges' aim of furthering education and believes it is well placed to give students the skills they need for the job market.

The proportion of 16-year-olds in full time study in the UK reached 70% in 1995, from less than 50% in the mid-1980s. However, the UK has generally been less successful than competing countries in encouraging 16- and 17-year olds to remain in education and training, according to a study from the Centre for Economic Performance. It is now clear that research is required into why young people are unwilling to participate in education and training.

College managers have joined industry leaders in criticizing the Government's Private Finance Initiative scheme, under which private developers fund and assume the risk of building facilities. College principals say it costs them tens of thousands of pounds for studies, absorbs many of their hours, and creates delays that discourage investors. Ministers acknowledge problems but intend to keep the policy, noting that the Further Education Funding Council's prior arrangements were no better for the schools.

A skills gap is widening in the further education sector as colleges cut back on investment in staff development while demands on those skills increase. The Further Education Development Agency is launching the FE Staff Development Forum to create a training structure, though no national training curriculum in envisioned as that would make it harder to draw in people with a range of backgrounds. Training for part-time lecturers is a particular concern, as the sector relies upon them more heavily.

Guidance from the Further Education Funding Council suggests colleges should prepare for a worst-case scenario of drastic cuts that could eliminate the demand-led element, or cash for work above colleges' targets. The value of additional funding units will probably decline for the first time, down about 25% from 1996-97 to the following year. Though some principals say they expected the situation, many predict six- or seven-figure cuts leading to inevitable staff reductions.

Helen Kennedy QC chairs the UK Further Education Funding Council's widening participation committee, bringing to it the same remarkable zeal and talent she displays in a host of other public posts. Her committee will finish its two-year inquiry early in 1997, and many experts expect it to produce a radical report. Some committee members complain it is taking too long to set goals and an agenda. Heavy expectations weigh on the group, which is exploring ways of bringing new skills to groups that typically avoid them.

A conference on mergers between institutions of higher education and further education in the UK revealed increased skepticism about the benefits of such moves. The radical Derby proposal, involving Derby University and five FE colleges, has encountered problems, and another effort recently collapsed. Prior links have involved only specialty schools. The loss of a sense of mission now seen in FE due to underfunding could be exacerbated by mergers, warn critics.

Professor David Melville's appointment to the Further Education Funding Council has brought several comments from critics ranging from his safe management skills to his alleged inability to match the work of his predecessor, Sir William Stubbs. However, principals who have worked with Melville describe him as a skillful politician, a competent manager, and a good communicator who can build bridges between organizations.

A training leader asserts that Sir Ron Dearing's reforms will work if employers and schools stop vying for students. Instead, he believes that relationships should be formed between colleges, schools, and the workplace. The more flexible system of academic-vocational education fostered by Dearing should provider a better transition from education to jobs.

The British Further Education Development Agency is exploring different colleges' responses to drug abuse and drug education to develop guidelines for colleges facing drug abuse on their campuses. One innovative college, Suffolk College, interviewed 1/5 of its 16-to-24-year-olds to find the best way to adopt a drug education program. The College discovered that students want factual rather than moral education and multimedia computer packages would be an efficient way to disseminate the information. A long-term drug education program is necessary.

The British Further Education Development Agency surveyed 260 colleges and found that about 100 felt drug abuse was an important issue. Colleges are having problems with drug-dealers on campus and with disruptive behavior among students using drugs. Many colleges are developing drug awareness and education programs to combat the drug abuse and even alcohol abuse which is more of a problem on some campuses. Drug and alcohol use are linked to problems, such as absenteeism, dropping out, poor studying and poor concentration.

Gillian Shephard, the first United Kingdom minister to speak the National Union of Teachers conference in over a decade, was not well-received in 1996. Many were angry that a politician was given time at the podium. Shephard, the Education and Employment Secretary, said nothing terribly critical of the profession, and the walk-outs that many expected did not occur. The audience was very unreceptive, however.

Reports claim that the education sector is not meeting the training requirements of employers. Further education colleges are allegedly putting the needs of the students ahead of the employers, who consider much of the content of qualifications not applicable to their needs. The colleges respond that employers do not clearly communicate their training needs.

Vice-chancellors of the new universities dominate the list of 13 persons shortlisted for the post of chief executive of the Further Education Funding Council. The post becomes vacant as Sir William Stubbs accepts an assignment in the London Institute. The winner of Britain's highest educational post must have a different strategy and political skill to meet the financial difficulties and other ordeals after the general elections. Prof David Watson of Brighton University and Sir John Daniel of Open University are emerging as strong candidates.

The national college lecturers' union sharply criticized Kingsway College's expulsion of student union president Nick De Marco, while the National Union of Students supports the move. In Nov 1995, Tory Party chairman Dr Brian Mawhinney was attacked with flour and paint; De Marco and two other students faced disciplinary hearings and assault charges. After the three were suspended, occupations and demonstrations, including alleged violence, led to extensive equipment damage, which the college cites as the cause of expulsion.

A Special Branch investigation of reported Muslim extremist activities at several Midlands and West Yorkshire colleges follows a leafleting at Derby College, Wilmorton, and violence at Bradford & Ilkley Community College that led to nine students' expulsions. The group, Hizb ut Tahrir (HUT), was apparently involved in both incidents, and has harassed female students for not following Islamic dress codes. Observers express concern over increasingly fervent students and Muslim community leaders disapprove of HUT.

Colleges and universities are advised to strengthen their ties to resolve the financial issues facing the further education sector. A consultation paper based on a study commissioned by the Higher Education Funding Council for England says these two sectors should forge stronger partnerships to increase their chances of winning cash grants and funding arrangements for higher education courses.

The further education sector posted its 11th merger when North Warwickshire signed the papers to merge with Hinckley colleges. However, many education officials are questioning whether the merger is a true merger, a takeover, or a rescue package. Like other mergers, the two colleges faced many challenges including disagreements over the merger's education framework. School officials also resolved the problem with the A5, a road that separates the two colleges.

A report written by Lewisham College registrar Julian Gravatt has accused awarding bodies of engaging in price-fixing. Cited in the report were bodies that award qualifications such as the Business and Technology Education Council, City and Guilds and the Royal Society of Arts. Gravatt claimed that these bodies assure cash-strapped colleges funding in exchange for qualifications.

The managers and auditors are concerned about the problems with computerized Individualized Student Records (ISR). Colleges are missing the deadline for submitting funding claims for 1994-95 due to flawed software used for calculations. Although the Further Education Funding Council (FEFC) is trying to resolve the problem, the Council believes that colleges are responding well to the ISR system. Audit firms believe that ISRs are unable to endure scrutiny. The FEFC has not extended the deadline for everyone but auditors have rescheduled visits with individual colleges.

Further education chief inspector Terry Melia is framing a new inspection strategy to tackle complacency. The strategy replaces the inspection visit system with self-assessment by the colleges of their own performance. The colleges that are self-critical and set and achieve high standards will have lighter inspections and can file for accreditation by the quality assessment committee. Colleges poor at self-assessment will face the full inspection system, while colleges lacking in standards will be under regular inspection system. An interdisciplinary group will devise the framework.

The future of the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (NACRO) depends on the pilot Government scheme. The training wing of NACRO, providing training to people with special learning needs such as ex-offenders, is affected as government funding depends on trainees moving into work. The government's decision to allocate a portion of the adult training fund to new courses will help NACRO's New Careers Training. The pilot scheme, now restricted to adults, will probably be extended to youths between 16 and 18 years of age.

Colleges and universities are misleading students into believing that media courses being offered are sufficient for securing good jobs in broadcasting. Media courses in British colleges are growing at a fast pace but most colleges lack proper equipment for providing adequate training. An examination of the courses reveals that the skills provided are far behind those required by the employers. Media tutors feel that the broadcasting institutes should help them to improve their standards of education instead of blaming.

Manchester College of Arts and Technology (MANCAT) is opening sixth forms in three schools, establishing an example of cooperation between further education and the local authority. The college plans to open a new center in each school initially with its own funds to encourage students to continue education. The Further Education Funding Council will subsequently fund the program. The Manchester council, concerned by the increased dropping rates of 16 to 18-year-old students from colleges, came up with the idea to help students continue their education.

The future of cash for degree courses in colleges is under threat as the Higher Education Funding Council for England has started to prepare a consultation document on funding the programmes. The document has provisions for restricting the extension of funding of higher education courses in colleges which has connection with a higher institution under a sponsorship deal. This move will stunt the growth of higher education, which has been registering a boom since the 1980s.

Employers are complaining over the newly proposed standards for the national vocational qualifications. They say the proposed changes undermine their ability to provide good training to vocational students and to select students who will most likely meet their requirements. This questioning of their competence were not supported with a valid and strong evidence. Furthermore, they criticized the technical language used to express the standards.

An Institute of Employment Studies report shows that employers' increasing awareness of the UK government's national vocational qualification (NVQ) program resulted in greater apathy toward NVQs. The study, which surveyed 758 employers in Wales and England, showed that employers who implemented NVQs rose from six to seven percent only between 1993 and 1995. Likewise, only three percent indicated that they plan to introduce NVQs.

UK chief curriculum adviser Sir Ron Dearing is planning to let the market choose between the traditional A-level system and a national certificate in line with his efforts to reform the 16-19 qualifications. A-level advocates would be unable to oppose Dearing's plan since the acceptance of the certificate would be determined by schools, colleges, university admissions departments and employers.

UK principals have expressed support for a flexible college financing deal. Under the agreement, further education finance chiefs will provide capital cash through the regular monthly installments used for running costs. The deal will replace block grants for capital spending while providing colleges with regular access to capital. However, the cash is strictly for capital projects and managers are prohibited from using these to fund revenue costs.

A-levels and general national vocational qualifications are being eyed for changes by reformers from education, business and politics. The Labor Party is considering replacing the A-levels with a unified modular curriculum leading to one national award. The moderate Tory Reform Group, on the other hand, is proposing a 'twin-track' qualification with academic and vocational choices as replacement. The Labor Party's proposal is based on a study by the London University Institute of Education and Warwick University which is recommending a three-stage move towards a unified system.

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has proposed the creation of voluntary accounts for the funding of lifetime learning. The CBI plan calls for matching contributions from employers, workers and the taxpayer. The CBI proposal was unveiled even as government agencies released their own papers which raised serious doubts on the viability of such a program.

The academic community has lauded the UK government's decision to lift the holdback mechanism, funding penalties imposed on colleges for failing to bring in new contracts. Under the program, ministers are given the right to keep as much as 2% of the further education global grant. Government officials stated that the penalty was being abandoned in view of progress in the introduction of new contracts.

Education and Employment Secretary Gillian Shephard admits that Britain's lifetime learning strategies to raise the country's workforce standard are failing. Only two-thirds of the workforce reached national vocations qualifications (NVQ) level 3. The government also admits that firms will most likely discontinue employee training and might also streamline structure. The government also plans to cut funds for further education.

Parents and students use other criteria than the league tables in selecting schools. So claim the principals, who also say that the tables are of no help to anyone. They also voiced out, again, their objection: that the tables portray college performances unrealistically. The tables also do not reflect either the key points of colleges: the added value; or the students' background, which should place the relative scores in perspective. The tables, then need to be restructured.

Research commissioned by the Sixth Form College Asscn. on 35 reports published by the Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED) reveals comments on the sixth form in schools to be inadequate and may even just be pro forma. Further Education Funding Council (FEFC) supports the colleges' claims and states that there should be a common inspection standards for both schools and colleges. An OFSTED spokesperson, however, claims that the schools sixth forms inspections were as tough as those administered in colleges.

Officials of the Further Education Funding Council (FEFC) have been severely criticized over the move to have clerks acting as whistleblowers on corrupt practices in college corporations. The criticisms came from the chief executives of the Assn. for Colleges and the Colleges's Employer's Forum. The move on FEFC's part was to assure the Nolan Committee on standards of public life of the existence of control mechanisms in college corporations in the wake of the mismanagement at the Derby Wilmorton College and St. Philip's RC Sixth-Form College in Birmingham.

Inspections made by the Further Education Funding Council on the German apprenticeship system show that despite the cuts made, it still is the best way to produce highly skilled artisans and technicians. The study also shows that the system is so deeply rooted in the cultural system of Germany that the firms regard it a social responsibility. However, firms have already been reducing training areas due to funding constraints, so now the cost of training has been shifted from employers to the taxpayers.

The analysis of 35 Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED) inspection results has moved the National Confederation of Parent Teacher Assn. (NCPTA) to ask for separate inspections of schools sixth forms. The analysis has shown that the inspections, at best, were perfunctory; at worst, just adjuncts to the complete report. Margaret Morrisey, spokesperson of the NCPTA, is backed by John Sutton, Gen. Sec. of Secondary Heads Assn. However, he also pointed out that a separate inspection system would probably be costly.

Coventry Technical College has settled a dispute with the Coventry, England city council over 6.7 million pounds of debts acquired before Coventry's incorporation. The debts were troubling to the College because they undermined its financial stability despite have otherwise stable finances. The council decided to settle because a court case would have likely been lost because of questions over liability and would have resulted in the College becoming insolvent. The settlement is for 1 million pounds and 500,000 pounds in land.

The British Assn for Colleges is promoting an educational reform plan where students could choose 21 subject areas from hundreds of small modules in every area to generate a general national certificate rather than having a more structured curricula. The models proposed by Ron Dearing for 16 to 19 education have been rejected in favor of this proposal which would give students the opportunity to tailor their education to their interests and the flexibility to study a broader range of areas.

Statistics show that 7% of 16 and 17-year olds in the United Kingdom do not continue their education or training after school. Reports prepared by the National Youth Agency show that students resort to criminal behaviour instead of looking for employment. Schools and colleges are working together to identify potential dropouts and make them stay in the education and employment system. The Training Education Councils (TECs) are working in Manchester, West London and Birmingham and have taken initiatives to create more part-time employment chances for dropouts.