A public meeting is to be held over Salford City College plans to axe 57 jobs and 53% of student capacity at its Walkden Sixth Form Centre.
The meeting takes place at Walkden Sixth Form Centre on Wednesday 7 October at 7:30pm.
The college has published a Business Transformation Plan in response to a staggering £3 million of Further Education cuts laid down by central government.
Most of the cuts appear to be down to a 22% funding reduction from the Skills Funding Agency in 2015/16 and more cuts of 20% every year.
Without change the college expects a deficit of £700,000 in 2015/16, and over £1 million every further year until 2020.
Among the proposals are losing all student counselling, selling off land and buildings at Walkden to raise capital, and significant drop in teaching hours with a major push to online learning.
There are fears Walkden Sixth Form Centre will bear the brunt of the cuts.
Students at Walkden would have to take their courses at other college centres in Pendleton, Eccles or Salford Quays.
Eccles could also lose A2 and AS courses, and Pendleton could see student numbers and teaching hours also slashed.
Seven local Labour councillors have launched a campaign to stop the cuts.
A petition, which parents and students are being encouraged to sign, is online here
Little Hulton Councillor Kate Lewis told SalfordOnline.com: “Salford City College are already planning for more government cuts and have noted in their plans that Walkden is “remote…This may allow for further reductions in Walkden space in the future”.
Salford currently has the fourth highest number in the country of people who are not in education, employment or training, as well as the dubious honour of having the highest total in Greater Manchester.
Walkden South Councillor Richard Critchley added: “There are big changes coming to further education in Walkden and people need to be aware of what is happening. The government is making huge cuts to funding and this will have a massive impact on the future of Walkden Sixth Form Centre.
“This will be a major blow to the local area but sadly it looks like even more cuts are to come.
“I’d urge people to attend the meeting on Wednesday and find out what government changes will mean to further education in this area.”
Worsley and Eccles South MP Barbara Keeley said she was worried about the impact the proposals would have on students now and in the future.
“It is very worrying to hear about the impact that the Government’s cuts in Further Education funding are having on Salford City College.
“I know that the College is working hard to protect the excellent provision it has across Salford in the face of the Government slashing its funding and the College is being forced to make some very tough decisions.
“Further education provides vital support to help people to get back into work or to retrain for a new role. These cuts could leave the most vulnerable adults in Salford without access to opportunities to improve their education.”
The MP added that she had raised concerns over the cuts with Government ministers and urged them to make no further cuts to Further Education budgets.
No-one at Salford City College could be reached for comment.
