Welfare Reform on the Web (July 2008): Education - UK - training

Red tape threatens college reforms

J. Lepper

Children and Young People Now, June 11th-17th 2008, p. 13

The government is consulting on plans to transfer control of £7bn of further education funding for young people under 19 from the Learning and Skills Council to local authorities. Councils will be required to work together through sub-regional groups, which will involve the local Regional Development Agency. A Young People's Learning Agency will be set up to provide a suggested budget for each region, help resolve disagreements, and manage national and regional contracts for providers across England. A new Skills Funding Agency will monitor college performance and handle funding for adult education. The proposed system has been heavily criticised for being too complex and over-bureaucratic.