New Prime Minister announced - AoC comment

Boris Johnson has been announced as our new Prime Minister. Steve Frampton, President of the Association of Colleges: “As Boris Johnson collects the keys to Number 10 we look forward to working with him and his government to deliver a skills system that people, employers and the country so desperately needs. Mr Johnson faces many challenges during an uncertain time, however it is difficult to see how these other issues can begin to be grappled with if the new Prime Minister does not make creating a robust technical, vocational and academic education system his priority. In light of the ongoing disorderly exit from the European Union the new Prime Minister must commit to urgently addressing the issues facing the sector regardless of the outcomes of the negotiations and final deal. The House of Common’s own Education Select Committee warned this week that the education system is approaching breaking point – joining policy experts, employers, unions, and Parliamentarians from every Party in calling for immediate action. They are clear that failure to recognise the risks our colleges face will have a devastating impact on the country.” Mr Johnson may remember in a speech launching his leadership bid that he pledged to give young people the same access, freedoms and confidence to succeed while funding our amazing FE colleges. This is the perfect opportunity to now call on our new Prime Minister to be true to his word, follow through with his plans for further education and commit to the sector that has been overlooked for so long. We’ll be sure to remind him if he doesn’t.”