Sir.-With regard to a recent Gazette article on industrial action in the college sector.
Colleges receive at least 10 per cent less per student from the Government than schools for providing the same courses.
The average college would gain £500,000 annually if the funding gap were closed. Fair funding would allow colleges to pay their staff more and still balance their books.
Colleges asked the Government for £1.9billion extra funding between 2005 and 2008. It looks as if the Government will allocate only one-sixth of the total money needed, which will make the task of addressing pay issues increasingly difficult for colleges.
The Association of Colleges has launched a national campaign and petition for fair funding. Readers can sign the petition at www.ipetitions.com/campaigns/fair_funding/
-Dr John Brennan, Chief Executive, Association of Colleges, New Oxford Street, London.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article