Today (26 October) UNISON, NUS and UCU warned that a last-minute
amendment to the Education Bill could remove the legal right to staff and
student governors on further education college governing bodies.
The amendment (83A*), which will be debated in the House of Lords today,
was placed just two days before the final report stage of the Education Bill in
the House of Lords. It would remove the legal, mandatory stipulation that
further education governing bodies contained at least two student and two
staff governors.
UNISON, NUS and UCU said that without the statutory obligation of staff and
students on the board of colleges would be less accountable, which is
particularly troublesome as further education faces huge funding challenges
and staff and student input will be vital. They added that a voluntary code
would be ineffective.
Jon Richards, UNISON National Secretary Education and Childrens Services
said:
“I am shocked at the way the government has tried to slip this amendment
under the radar. The motive for doing this seems extremely suspect. It looks
like an undemocratic attempt to remove college democracy.
“This is not a necessary technical change as the government is trying to claim.
They risk giving colleges the chance to remove the eyes and ears of staff and
students from governing bodies.
“We are therefore calling on the government to withdraw the amendments.”
Toni Pearce, NUS Vice President said:
“The long-standing tradition of requiring staff and student membership in
college governance structures as well as parent membership in schools and
sixth form colleges is incredibly important, and to remove it in this way,
without any consultation would be extremely worrying.”
“This change runs entirely counter to the governments expressed support for
the existence of student and staff governors. The suggestion that this is
merely a technical change simply does not hold and it is clear that there is no
legal reason why this cannot continue to be a mandatory requirement.”
“The government must urgently clarify whether or not a legal requirement for
student and staff governors will be maintained. It is only too clear that a
merely voluntary agreement is not good enough as it would allow student and
staff representation to be removed on a whim.”
Sally Hunt, UCU General Secretary said:
“These changes, if voted through, will increase the risk of mismanagement
and corruption at colleges and make institutions less answerable to the
public. Staff and students play a vital role in ensuring transparency and
accountability and in highlighting bad governance when it arises. A voluntary
code, as has been shown in numerous other industries, is simply not good
enough.
“With the sector facing huge funding challenges it seems perverse to be
pushing these changes through. Colleges benefit massively from the input of
the people working at the coalface day in day out and should not just be able
to remove dissenting voices.
ENDS
Amendment 83A*, tabled on Monday 24 October 2011 by Lord Hill of
Oareford, states:
Page 91, line 18, at end insert –
“In section 20 (constitution of further education corporation and conduct of
further education institution), for subsection (2) substitute
(2) Instruments of government and articles of government of further
education corporations in England
(a) must comply with the requirements of Part 2 of Schedule 4, and
(b) subject to that, may make such other provision as may be necessary or
desirable.
For section 22 substitute –
22 Subsequent instruments and articles: England
A further education corporation in England may modify or replace their
instrument of government or articles of government.
Amendment 84ZA*, also tabled on Monday 24 October 2011 by Lord Hill of
Oareford, states:
Page 91, line 42, at end insert
“In section 33I(2) (instrument and articles of government of sixth form college
corporations
(a) in paragraph (a), after requirements of