Assembly Committee To Hear About Proposed College Cuts

Union representatives will outline their concerns about proposed job cuts at a special meeting of the Northern Ireland Assembly Employment and Learning Committee on (date). The extra meeting comes after the Belfast Metropolitan College announced plans to cut more than 100 jobs.

Speaking about the meeting, Chairperson of the Committee, Dolores Kelly MLA said: “My Committee is committed to ensuring that young people in Northern Ireland get the opportunities to develop the skills and expertise that will enable them to contribute to our economic life. In this current climate we are keen to ensure that any spending cuts have a minimal impact on the educational opportunities which are available to all our young people.

“Our colleges play a very important part in providing targeted professional training and development. We are therefore interested in hearing from those involved with Belfast Metropolitan College and would want to urge both unions and college management to work together in these difficult times.”

Representatives from the four unions involved in the College, NIPSA (the Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance), Unite, the UCU (University and College Union) and the NASUWT (National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers) will all be appearing before the Committee on Tuesday 2 November.