Defend adult education


Don’t close our centre!

IN MID-APRIL, staff of the Community Learning and Skills Service (CLaSS)
in Waltham Forest, north east London, were informed that the extremely
popular Walthamstow Learning Centre in Greenleaf Road would be closed
from August 2005.

Susan Wills, part-time lecturer – Community Learning and Skills
Service

This was a confirmation of rumours which had circulated for some
time. Classes would be relocated to other centres – although most
lecturers have still had no information about the location of their
classes and students have received no official letter informing them
that their classes are moving.

This centre has provided a wide variety of classes and activities for
80 years. It is owned by the Quakers, who have no wish to see adult
education leave the premises. Although the lease does not expire until
2007, CLaSS and Waltham Forest council decided to end their association
with the building.

This dismays lecturers and students, who value the centre and the
sense of community created there over a long time. We believe the
proposed closure is a cost-cutting exercise and part of a wider move to
slim down adult education across the borough.

On 24 May, a group of centre users, lecturers, union members (NATFHE
and UNISON) and local people held a well-attended and lively meeting to
share information and air their views.

One of the main concerns was that the process had been shrouded in
secrecy and that there had been no consultation. People were angry that
such a valuable community resource was under threat and some spoke
passionately about their own very positive experiences of adult
education.

It was decided to stage a demonstration in Walthamstow to protest
against the closure of Walthamstow Learning Centre. The date is now set
for Saturday 18 June and will be widely publicised by leafleting,
contacting unions, etc.

We call upon the council for proper consultation and an opening of
the books, to ensure transparency and accountability.

The threat to Greenleaf Road centre is just part of a wider attack on
adult education, as Friday Hill House and Louisa Oakes, two centres in
Chingford, are earmarked for closure and sale by 2007. We urge local
people to fight to safeguard their services and we thank the Socialist
Party for their great support in this campaign.