TEACHERS have slammed government plans to withdraw funding from vocational training schemes, warning that this will worsen inequalities faced by disadvantaged pupils and students.

The government is to withdraw funding for applied general qualifications schemes which give students practical education in addition to classroom teaching.

The schemes include Btec (Business and Technology Education Council) training, which provides vocational training in subjects such as childcare, construction, engineering, health and social care, hospitality, information technology and computing, public and protective services, science, sport, transport, travel and tourism.

The National Education Union (NEU) “strongly condemned” the decision which it said could lead to the closure of further education colleges.

And Labour warned that the plans will “embed inequalities” in education for thousands of young people.

Labour says withdrawing funding for the scheme will disproportionately hit disadvantaged students and those with special educational needs and disabilities (Send).

NEU joint general secretary Dr Mary Bousted said: “We strongly condemn the government’s decision to defund applied general qualifications.

“Scrapping these qualifications would massively impact disadvantaged students who for many years have used these qualifications to progress to higher education and into employment.”

She said that the decision was “ill-thought out and will result in thousands of students missing out on opportunities to progress and potentially the closure of further education colleges.”

Labour further education and skills shadow minister Toby Perkins said: “The Conservatives’ plan to scrap Btec risks embedding inequalities and holding young people back.

“Despite recognising the harmful impact that this decision will have on students from poorer backgrounds the Conservatives are ploughing ahead showing a shocking disregard for young people’s life chances.

“These qualifications are valued by employers, universities and students themselves. The government’s alternative T-Level qualifications are currently unproven and a hasty charge to abolish Btecs would be hugely irresponsible.”

Labour said that recent exam results already showed growing inequality in which disadvantaged and special needs students “have been outstripped in this week’s GCSE results and Btec results.”

And the government’s own equality impact assessment of the decision showed “those from Send backgrounds, Asian ethnic groups, disadvantaged backgrounds, and males disproportionately likely to be affected” by the decision to axe funding, Labour said.