Results tagged “education”

By Lutfur Rahman

One of the most short-sighted policies that the Conservative-led Government has pushed through has been the abolition of the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA).

Some £30 a week may not sound much to millionaire cabinet ministers, but it does to our young people, especially in Tower Hamlets.

Scrapping the Education Maintenance Grant was, "a mean spirited and short-sighted action by this government," according to Tower Hamlets mayor Lutfur Rahman.

Yesterday he announced a new scheme to fill the gap felt by students in the poorest borough in the country.

Newham Council has lost its High Court battle to overturn the Government's decision to cancel building work at dilapidated schools.

The decision follows the scrapping of the £55billion Building Schools For The Future programme by education secretary Michael Gove.

The entire country isn't opposed to the public sector strikes. Just those who haven't got jobs at all, those who haven't got any meaningful pensions, those in the private sector who face far more draconian cutbacks on their benefits, those in the small business sector who live with daily insecurity, and, of course, the army of parents valiantly attempting to arrange childcare as the schools shut.

Domestic violence, financial hardship or responsibilities at home are just some of the barriers that can prevent women from gaining qualifications or having the confidence to look for employment. With a vision to create learning opportunities for all, Michelle Sapiano, 34, set up the East London Academy Training and Therapy Centre in Bow five years ago to provide a facility for disadvantaged people as an alternative to formal education.

The University of East London has announced it is to charge all full-time undergraduates £9,000 a year in tuition fees from September 2012.

The university's board of governors made the decision this week, although it is still subject to approval from the Office for Fair Access. It is the maximum sum any university can charge under the new fees system.

The University of Greenwich has appointed Professor David Maguire as its new vice-chancellor.

Prof Maguire, an expert in computer mapping and geographical information systems, is currently pro vice-chancellor at Birmingham City University. He will take up his Greenwich post on October 1.

London Assembly member, John Biggs, has criticised Boris Johnson for doing "too little, too late" to stop the government scrapping Education Maintenance Allowance.

There are currently 4,230 children receiving EMA in Tower Hamlets and 5,771 in Newham.

Members of the University and College Union took strike action across the UK today to protest at changes to pensions and pay cuts.

Staff from Tower Hamlets College, Greenwich University and University of East London took to picket lines over what they believe to be unfair increases in their pension contributions and moves to raise the retirement age.

Thousands of East London students are facing being "cut adrift" as the Government plans to axe funding initiatives. The vice-chancellor of the University of East London and the principals of three east London further education colleges are warning that cuts to funding are tantamount to abandoning a generation of disadvantaged learners.

Professor Patrick McGhee has begun his stint as vice chancellor of the University of East London.

The former University of Central Lancashire deputy vice-chancellor, 47, is one of the youngest vice-chancellors in the UK.

Tower Hamlets Council has warned its overspend for the year could approach £8million.

At a meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny committee last night, officers predicted a general fund overspend of £3.74million and a housing overspend of as much as £4million, based on spending up to September.

London's Olympic Park will become a centre of academic as well as athletic achievement under plans unveiled by Boris Johnson.

The Mayor of London and the Government have published a proposal to develop a world-class research, learning and innovation centre at the Stratford site.

Cabinet minister Ed Balls visited East London to check on the process of diplomas offering "real world skills" to future professionals.

The schools secretary arrived at the Half Moon Young People's Theatre to meet students and teachers, who are testing the new hands-on "practical" courses.