COLLEGES in Trafford are making £1m of cuts to adult learning.

Staff and students at North and South Trafford Colleges have been told that many non-vocational courses would be discontinued.

The colleges, which are both in the Association of Colleges' Fairer Funding campaign to try to fight the cuts, cannot say for sure how many courses will be cut until the number of enrolments is established, but they have estimated that 1,000 of their 14,900 adult students will not be able to continue their education.

Colleges have been under pressure for some time to offer fewer courses that do not lead to a qualification, such as crafts, languages or arts, so the cuts are likely to be concentrated in these areas, with evening classes among those worst affected.

Some courses still on offer are likely to have increased charges.

Dorothy Wilson, 56, from Stretford, has studied cake decoration and cold porcelain at North Trafford College for two years. Both courses are likely to be scrapped.

She said: "I'm furious that they will be scrapped because they provide a place where older people can keep learning, meet new people and keep traditional crafts alive." South Trafford College principal Bill Moorcroft said: "Trafford has one of the smallest adult community learning budgets in the country and much of the provision has been previously supported by the FE funding pot. The need to prioritise government funding and the withdrawal of fund will impact on adult learning. We feel very strongly that adult learning should be protected. It is often a second chance for people to return to education after missing out when younger."

Altrincham and Sale West's Conservative MP, Graham Brady, said: "I have tabled questions in the House of Commons about the government's funding of adult education - their short-sightedness is breathtaking.

"Now that many people are expecting to work until the age of 70 and many will follow a number of different career paths, the need for re-training is clearer than ever.

"The government's message seems to be: `If you're over 19 and want to further your education, tough luck! ''

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