Wiltshire College will axe 350 part time courses from its new prospectus because of cuts in Government funding.

The reduction amounts to about ten per cent of the total part time courses and Wiltshire College principal George Bright admitted it was a disappointment to have to cut its choice of adult education.

He said: "As a college we have invested heavily in adult education and expanded provision and improved facilities in all our catchment areas.

"The change in Government policy in the Skills White Paper is damaging that."

Mr Bright explained that the Skills Strategy expected people to pay more for their adult education with a reduction of 40 per cent in funding expected over the next four years, starting with a ten per cent reduction next year.

Instead funding is being focused on priority provision which is free basic literacy and numeracy learning, as well as programmes for adults who have not achieved education level 2 amounting to five GCSEs.

"People can get these programmes free," said Mr Bright.

"The funding for basic skills has remained the same but the funding for level 2 is new.

"For everything else they are reducing the public subsidy."

Fees next term will be increasing by about ten per cent.

As a result the college is anticipating a corresponding ten per cent reduction in uptake.

The 350 courses cut are spread over the Wiltshire College catchment area.

It should therefore not mean any subjects will be abandoned entirely.

Instead the college will rationalise provision so there are not so many courses available in each subject.

"People will still be able to do what they are doing now, but there might be fewer opportunities to do it exactly when and where they want to," said Mr Bright.

"In the past, with painting and drawing, for example, you could start a course in September, January or in the summer.

"In the future you might have to sign up for the whole year. We want to make provision more efficient and cost effective."

Mr Bright said letters were being sent out to staff and students explaining the changes.

Full time courses for 16- to 18-year-olds will not be affected though Mr Bright pointed out they received 12 to 17 per cent less to educate students than schools did.

Over 15,000 adults also pursue courses at the college, which works closely with more than 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," said Mr Bright.

"I, and many others, have lobbied against this policy to no avail.

"Wiltshire College has invested heavily to improve our facilities for adult learning throughout West and North Wiltshire and West Kennet.

"We believe we offer very good value for money but are concerned that this new 'tax on learning' will hit the pockets of so many people and businesses."

He also urged people to regard this as a significant issue for local services in the current election campaign, and to raise it with candidates.

Mr Bright is also inviting people to support the Association of Colleges' campaign for fair funding by completing the online petition that will be presented to the next Government at www.ipetitions.com/campaigns/ fair_funding.