A NEWPORT student has set up a petition in protest to cuts in student services and support staff at Coleg Gwent.

In March, the college announced the cuts after the Welsh Government reduced funding for part-time courses by 50 per cent for 2015, and slashed all other funding by 2.6 per cent.

The University and College Union (UCU) said around 60 lecturers face redundancy as well as 70 support staff, including technicians and caretakers, meaning students could see 50,000 fewer teaching hours.

Charlotte Sherton, 16, who is studying a level one introduction to health and social care course, has obtained signatures from 177 students for her petition against these cuts.

Ms Sherton left Lliswerry High School after finishing Year 11 and has found the support staff at the college crucial to her transition into college life, whether it’s proofreading assignments or boosting her basic English and Maths skills.

She said: “It’s hard enough to get time with them as it is, because they’re so busy.

“Our student service and support staff are excellent and we as students feel that these cuts are unfair, as they have an impact on our future.

“The learning support advisors, learning centre managers, and essential skills teachers give us life skills.

“Many student lack basic skills in Maths and English. Who’s going to help them when they’re gone?

“The college promises that all needs of students will be supported so they can achieve qualifications to go out into the work place. How can Coleg Gwent do this with no support staff?”

Coleg Gwent principal Jim Bennett said: “These are very large cuts in our funding, and if they continue in the future, even though we are a strong college, the result will be the loss of all part-time and adult learning with the exception of a small amount in priority areas such as literacy and numeracy.

A college spokesman added: “Coleg Gwent places a very high priority on helping all students improve their English and Maths and this will continue.

“As a college we have proposed to introduce a new skills team to support current and future students which will not impact on the excellent support we offer.”

Regarding the cuts, a Welsh Government spokesman previously said they are working closely with colleges on the potential impacts of the reduced budget 2015/16 for further education colleges.

He said: “It is important, however, to recognise that we are protecting FE funding for 16-18 year olds as we appreciate the importance of further education in the drive to reduce the number of young people not in employment, education or training.

“We have been open with FE colleges in our discussions with them. It is now more important than ever that we focus not just on the resources that are available but how we use them and what we achieve.”