Lecturers’ strike to save A levels at Cambridge Regional College has to be the whole communities struggle for comprehensive education
0 Comments Published by Tom Woodcock on Wednesday, June 21, 2006 at 11:30 PM.
The decision by Cambridge Regional College to end it’s A level provision is an attack on comprehensive education. The cuts will most affect those who are economically less well off by further limiting access to a broad and inclusive curriculum.
Lecturers from the new university and Colleges Union and the Association of teachers and Lecturers held a one day strike last Tuesday and are continuing their action with a work to rule policy in protest at the cuts and 12 full time job losses.
Cambridge Respect fully support the action and are helping to build a campaign that encompasses the broader issues faced as a result of Blair’s attacks on public education. The strikers have also received support from the NUT branch at the Long Road the support union Unison and staff from the Universities are now getting involved.
The FE sector in Cambridge is already divisive and the latest cuts will deny A level education to hundreds of students - including those who are studying as part of a mix of courses, those who work and mature students.
The announcement follows the closure of a thriving evening class provision at Long Road Sixth Form and adult courses at the regional college now also look in jeopardy as a result of government cuts and increased marketisation of the sector.
The attacks come as teachers; parents and students fight the new ‘Education and Inspection Bill’. The bill will break up education and create a two tiered system in which the working classes will inevitably have less access to education.
Opening education to market forces and pandering to the needs of corporate big business can only lead down this path and what the FE sector is experiencing in Cambridge is just around the corner for the secondary and primary schools in the area.
FE providers are being pressured to offer courses geared towards employers needs. Cambridge has had a proud tradition of community education. Privatisation is a move away from an ethos that values personal enrichment,, the arts and the social befits of the community as a whole.
The story is the same at Universities. Anglia Ruskin has cut Modern Language and politics degrees and other courses. Along with increased top up fees this will further limit the opportunity degree level studies to many student and especially locals who rely on local provision.
With the right vision and commitment Local Education Authorities have it within their power to provide radical, comprehensive and free education. Respect Activist in Cambridge have been a key part in maintaining this vision.
We are linking up the issues and are building a campaign to protect and improve comprehensive education. We have helped set up a working group of educational Trade Unionists and are widening our campaign to include students and parents.
It is clear that government’s agenda is denying people the right to a rounded broad based curriculum. We want a good school for every child and the right of all to a continued and fulfilling education.
Lecturers from the new university and Colleges Union and the Association of teachers and Lecturers held a one day strike last Tuesday and are continuing their action with a work to rule policy in protest at the cuts and 12 full time job losses.
Cambridge Respect fully support the action and are helping to build a campaign that encompasses the broader issues faced as a result of Blair’s attacks on public education. The strikers have also received support from the NUT branch at the Long Road the support union Unison and staff from the Universities are now getting involved.
The FE sector in Cambridge is already divisive and the latest cuts will deny A level education to hundreds of students - including those who are studying as part of a mix of courses, those who work and mature students.
The announcement follows the closure of a thriving evening class provision at Long Road Sixth Form and adult courses at the regional college now also look in jeopardy as a result of government cuts and increased marketisation of the sector.
The attacks come as teachers; parents and students fight the new ‘Education and Inspection Bill’. The bill will break up education and create a two tiered system in which the working classes will inevitably have less access to education.
Opening education to market forces and pandering to the needs of corporate big business can only lead down this path and what the FE sector is experiencing in Cambridge is just around the corner for the secondary and primary schools in the area.
FE providers are being pressured to offer courses geared towards employers needs. Cambridge has had a proud tradition of community education. Privatisation is a move away from an ethos that values personal enrichment,, the arts and the social befits of the community as a whole.
The story is the same at Universities. Anglia Ruskin has cut Modern Language and politics degrees and other courses. Along with increased top up fees this will further limit the opportunity degree level studies to many student and especially locals who rely on local provision.
With the right vision and commitment Local Education Authorities have it within their power to provide radical, comprehensive and free education. Respect Activist in Cambridge have been a key part in maintaining this vision.
We are linking up the issues and are building a campaign to protect and improve comprehensive education. We have helped set up a working group of educational Trade Unionists and are widening our campaign to include students and parents.
It is clear that government’s agenda is denying people the right to a rounded broad based curriculum. We want a good school for every child and the right of all to a continued and fulfilling education.
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