Fees threat to lives made richer by art

That is because from September a number of non-vocational further education courses, such as art, will cost paying students a lot more to join.

For example, the cost of 30 twohour sessions a year is going up from £60 to £96. If enrolment takes place beyond a certain deadline the cost will be £128.

Prospectuses for part-time further education courses have not yet been published so the extra enrolment fees have not been publicly declared. But the word is out and causing a good deal of consternation.

Students who spoke to the T&A fear that greater fees will deter enrolment and consequently lead to the closure of courses. They blame the Government for not making enough money available for further education courses.

The Government has three funding priorities for Further Education: 16-18-year-olds; adult basic skills such as literacy and numeracy; and Level 2 qualifications - GCSE equivalents. Employment rather than leisure is the watchword.

Letters and articles innewspapers and educational journals all speak of the potential threat of cuts to a wide range of part-time courses for older people, including languagelearning.

They blame former Education Secretary Ruth Kelly for "slashing the education budget for older people" and maintaining the under-25s "as the sole priority of the Learning and Skills Council, " to quote one objector who lives in North London.

A woman from Derbyshire complains: "The Government's change of policy on funding for evening or part-time studies is short-sighted.

It conveniently seems to have forgotten that we have an ageing population who need mental stimulus and social contact with others" Artist David Hockney, who trained at Bradford College of Art in the 1950s, said: "We have a totally Philistine group of people who govern this country."

Two Bradford painters I know, now earning a living by their work in Cornwall, have a little mantra which goes: 'Art saves lives.' Evidence of this may be found on and around the walls of the glassroofed gallery at Bolton Royd Further Education centre, Manningham Lane - portraits, landscapes, still lifes, photographs, pottery, sculpture, all in a variety ofstyles by a range of people some of whom probably thought they were too old and past it to make an art object.

Tutor Susan Ross showed me a poster announcing a forthcoming exhibition at the gallery, a nicely painted landscape of a church.

She told me the artist was an 84year-old woman who had never had a picture on show before, let alone displayed on a poster. The boost this gave her may be imagined.

I was shown pictures by people who attended one of Susan Ross's seven weekly classes as an alternative to going to the doctors for something to do. Her students are enjoying art, and they are enjoying one another's company.

She said: "The apprehension I have is that when these increases take place people might be priced out of the market. These classes have been very popular, there have been waiting lists. Each of the seven classes I take has about 16 students. They come from all backgrounds.

"We have a retired accountant. All of his working life he's only been interested in two colours: red and black. Now he's painting landscapes. There is David. He is autistic. He has been coming here for ten years; he has made such progress in that time, " she said.

David's mum, Mrs Margaret Whittam, acknowledged that if through economies this particular Monday afternoon class at Bolton Royd were to close, it would be a great shame as well as a loss to her son. As she spoke he was working at an abstract design, surrounded by familiar faces.

He could attend another class because his disability entitles him to free tuition, as does being unemployed. The same is not true for pensioners, however. People such as Charlie Charnock of Baildon and Billy Hardaker of Thornton.

They face paying a minimum increase of £36 for their Monday afternoon class, £68 extra if they enrol after September.

Mr Charnock said: "I like the painting part but it's social as well.

I meet all my friends here. I am on my own, so coming here is important to me. I would be very sorry if it closed, " he said.

He admitted that he could afford to pay the extra if necessary; but in his opinion pensioners should have a discount.

Mr Hardaker, who works one day a week as a surveyor for Bradford College, said the increase would not be a financial problem to him and his wife; but he thought it might be to others less fortunate.

And if they stopped coming and numbers fell, the class might be cut.

"I would hate to lose this place if the numbers fall. It's not the college's fault, it's the bloody Government. This class is an easy target; it's not high profile like teaching immigrants English. I shall be writing to my MP, " he said.

Even though Bradford College's allocation for adult education for the coming year has been cut by £1.4m, Bradford North Labour MP Terry Rooney denies that the charges have anything directly to do with the Government.

"The money for Further Education, £210m, was ring-fenced and dropped into local authorities' block grants. Managing prices is a local authority or college function."

Former Labour Cabinet Minister Tony Benn, 83, has the last word on marketing education courses according to their economic utility.

In an article in the Times Educational Supplement he said: "People ask why society should pay if they don't use adult education.

You don't say that about the fire brigade if you don't have a fire. Or about the police if you're not burgled.

"It is the idea that society looks after the collective interest. That is now seen as Old Labour. Education is important for the quality of life of people, not just for the economy.

"If all the pensioners died, there would be a crisis. A lot of voluntary organisations would collapse without the unpaid work older people do. I'm one of them. I'm a kind of classroom assistant to the nation."

The argument from colleges managing Further Education is that non-vocational courses such as languages, art and physical education are as important for the mature clientele they serve as literacy and numeracy are for teenagers. As such they are worthy of adequate central government investment.

Michele Sutton, Bradford College's chief executive and principal, said: "Government cutbacks to adult education funding in England will affect colleges across the country.

We fear that courses in Bradford, Ilkley and Wharfedale community venues and like will be affected.

"We are well aware of the value which our adult students in community colleges place on education and learning opportunities, and are determined to run courses that are economically viable.

"However, due to the cutbacks, course fees will have to be increased in 2006/7."