§ Mr. IllsleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans his Department has to re-instate a demand-led element into the funding methodology for further education. [33580]
§ Dr. HowellsThe Department has no such plans.
§ Mr. IllsleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received seeking a review of the funding methodology for further education. [33581]
§ Dr. HowellsThe Department receives representations from time to time about the funding methodology. The Further Education Funding Council is currently undertaking a fundamental review of the methodology.
§ Mr. IllsleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the impact of convergence in funding in the further education sector on the Government's plans to increase the number 51W of students entering further education by 2002, with particular reference to those from disadvantaged backgrounds. [33582]
§ Dr. HowellsMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will keep under review the effects of convergence on the widening participation agenda.
§ Mr. IllsleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what assessment he has made of the effect of further education courses provided under franchised arrangements with partnership organisations in drawing people into learning opportunities from low-paid, unemployed and other disadvantaged backgrounds; [33584]
(2) what assessment he has made of the effect further education courses provided under franchised arrangements with partnership organisations will have in drawing people into learning opportunities under the New Deal and Lifetime Learning programmes. [33585]
§ Dr. HowellsFranchised provision can be a means of widening participation by bringing disadvantaged learners into FE. There may be scope for such provision to play a part in the education and training opportunities available under the New Deal for 18 to 24-year-olds.
§ Mr. John CryerTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if initial teacher training courses for further education teachers will be exempt from tuition fees. [34238]
§ Dr. HowellsI refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Walthamstow (Mr. Gerrard) on 2 February 1998,Official Report, column 564.
§ Mr. John CryerTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to change the(a) structure, (b) membership requirements and (c) responsibilities of further education college corporations. [34239]
§ Dr. HowellsThe Department published a consultation paper, "Accountability in Further Education", on 5 March 1998. Responses to the consultation are invited by 24 July.
§ Mr. John CryerTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to improve the professional development of(a) lecturers and (b) managers in further education colleges; and if he will make a statement on how they will benefit from the proposed general teaching council. [34323]
§ Dr. HowellsThe Government attach great importance to improving the quality of teaching and management in further education. In our consultation document "The Learning Age", we propose that all new teachers in further education should hold, or within two years of appointment have begun, a recognised initial teacher training qualification. In the same document, we highlight the need for professional training of FE managers. We are working closely with the FE sector to develop national standards for professional development and we anticipate that a National Training Organisation for FE will be established by the end of the year to take forward these developments. FE staff, with qualified teacher status, will be eligible to register with the general teaching council on the same basis as school teachers.
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