§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to increase the number of staff with engineering assessor and verifier qualifications in further education colleges. [73208]
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what plans the Government have to introduce(a) best practice in strategic planning and (b) evaluation in course development in further education colleges; [73203]
(2) what plans he has to improve the pass rates for GCSE courses in further education colleges; [73206]
(3) what action he proposes to improve retention rates in further education colleges. [73207]
§ Mr. MudieThe Government are strongly committed to raising standards in further education. We have increased funding for the sector and are introducing measures to secure year on year improvements in achievement across the board and to promote better retention rates in colleges.
591WIn particular, we are introducing a new Further Education Standards Fund from April 1999, worth £115 million over the next two years. This will provide additional and targeted financial support for improvement plans prepared by colleges causing significant concern; support for other colleges to implement improvements following a Further Education Funding Council inspection; and support for all colleges for the professional development and training of staff and governors.
The Fund will also be used to support the dissemination of good practice in all its forms by colleges identified as beacons of excellence.
These policies to secure better standards will be taken forward in close partnership with the further education sector, including key national bodies such as the Further Education Funding Council, the Further Education Development Agency, the Association of Colleges and the Further Education National Training Organisation.