WAGs Education Funding Crisis Grows - From Toddlers to Graduates

4.45.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 21st May 2008

In a Plenary debate on Higher Education the Welsh Lib Dems have today warned of yet another education funding crisis spiralling out of control. Following close in the footsteps of WAGs flip-flop on Foundation Phase funding, and the looming emergency in Further Education funding the Liberal Democrats have called on the WAG to acknowledge the HE funding gap between England and Wales as stated by the WAG body HEFCW.

The Higher Education Funding Council for Wales' (HEFCW) Funding Gap Report for 2005-06 out earlier this year found the deficit in public funding of universities in Wales, compared to funding in England, increased by 53% in one year - from £40m to £61m. The estimated HE investment gap between Wales and Scotland has also increased hugely - surging from £92m in 2004/05 to £151m in 2005/06 - an increase of 64%.

As long ago as 2005 the seriousness of the situation was acknowledged by all four parties with a motion seeking to undertake to "address any funding gap between Welsh HEIs and other comparable institutions in the UK". Plaid as recently as October 2007 boasted on their website that they had previously "secured a commitment from the (Labour) Government to close the funding gap that exists between comparable higher education institutions in England and Wales"; since joining the Government however their policy line has been to join Labour in denying any funding gap.

Kirsty Williams AM Welsh Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Education said:

"The problems in Education funding are fast piling up at the Government's door; from the Foundation phase to FE and HE.

"Our motion has quite clearly called upon the Plaid Labour Government to admit, what they once both agreed that there is a severe shortage of money in HE, particularly compared to England and that this must be addressed.

"The Government has instead put its fingers in its ears and called for answers to a problem they still refuse to admit exists. They did the same thing for the Foundation Phase - refusing to admit there was a problem until the 11th hour and growing unrest from the sector meant they could hide under their rock no more - they are now repeating the cycle with the HE funding Gap. The Minister's response is simply setting up yet another committee while the gap increases year on year.

"The Minister is right when she says that we need action and rhetoric - but without an admission of the problem we have neither.

"Higher education is a global market with fierce competition to attract research staff and funding for modern facilities and equipment, without research staff it is difficult to compete against universities in England and to bid for the tens of millions of pounds of research funding available from European and UK bodies. Without action Wales, its people and its knowledge economy will be left behind."