Coleg Gwent Cuts: 'A' levels to go

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 2nd Apr 2009

A swathe of cuts in further education in Gwent has been described as a "disaster" with a large cut in courses available and A Level courses being withdrawn from Pontypool to Cross Keys, abandoning students in North Torfaen with no local 16-18 provision.

Local Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member, Michael German, said that the cuts were a direct result of cuts from the Labour-Plaid Government in Cardiff Bay, describing the two parties as "sheer hypocrites."

Mr. German said, "Just yesterday we witnessed Plaid and Labour Assembly members speaking against cuts in further education, after they had voted for the very same cuts. Labour and Plaid cannot hide away from their actions and then try to cover up with sympathetic words on the steps of the Assembly Building."

Clearly angered, Mr. German added: "The Labour-Plaid Government is directly responsible for the Coleg Gwent cuts: teaching posts are going, sites in Pontypool and Abergavenny being closed, courses axed and young students facing upheaval just when they need to concentrate on studies. Where do Labour and Plaid suppose they can claim that they are committed to investment in education now?

Mr. German's comments were echoed by Liberal Democrat Torfaen Councillor, Veronica German: "Students in the North of Torfaen have been completely abandoned. No 16-18 provision at West Mon and Abersychan schools they are faced with either a long journey to Cross Keys or a long journey to a school with sixth form provision in the south of the borough. This is no choice at all."

"This is a real kick in the teeth for local young people wanting to study A Levels. Just when we need to invest in education to get us through the recession, then along comes the Labour-Plaid Assembly Government and take an axe to education funding, creating havoc for post-16 education. This leaves further education in the north of Torfaen in a real mess."