Unions warn coalition plans to charge for apprenticeships
Thursday 24 January 2013
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EmailPaying to take a workplace apprenticeship to learn a trade could be on the way back, unions warned today.
Four unions have warned that government plans to introduce tuition fees for people over 24 entering adult education will mean just that.
The University and College Union, Unison, Association of Teachers and Lecturers and National Union of Students were speaking ahead of tomorrows's launch of a government report on apprenticeships.
They said a "bizarre anomaly" means mature students will be charged fees and warned that the charges will discourage people from taking courses.
It could affect 100,000 students.
Vice president NUS for further education Toni Pearce said the government should "urgently scrap this ill-judged policy which will see older apprentices taking out loans just in order to work."
MPs will be lobbied on Friday February 8 to challenge the new policy.
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