WILTSHIRE College provides the further education service for most of the area covered by your newspaper. We achieve high standards, as reported by Ofsted, which graded us as one of the best performing general further education colleges in the country.

Almost 3,000 16-19-year-olds choose to pursue their education and training with us through college-based and work-based programmes. The fair funding of those young peoples' education would mean the college receiving additional funding of some £1.2m per year a substantial sum. At present government funding denies our students that financial support. It is a disgraceful and unfair 'tax on choice' the choices that Wiltshire's young people and their parents are making for their continued education and training.

Over 15,000 adults also pursue courses with us. We work closely with over 1,000 businesses throughout the area. Current government policy has decreed that in order to pay for free courses for a minority, the subsidy for adult programmes will be reduced. As a result we are required to increase our fees by 10 per cent next year. I, and many others, have lobbied against this policy to no avail. Wiltshire College has invested heavily to improve our facilities for adult learning. We believe we offer very good value for money but are concerned that this new 'tax on learning' will hit the pockets of many people and businesses.

I invite your readers to support the Association of Colleges' Campaign by completing the online petition that will be presented to the next government at www.ipetitions.com/campaigns/

fair_funding.

G BRIGHT

Principal

Wiltshire College