Hiya everyone
For the last year and the next year, there as been 15 of us counselling students doing a counselling course in the evenings. This week we were informed, if we we wanted to do Level 4 next year, then we would have to do the course through out the day. Ninty percent of the students work full time, the other 10%, like myself, are full time mums and there is just no way that we can do the course during the day. (It doesn't finish till 5pm). We are so angry the college has let us go through level 1, 2 & 3 in the evenings, if there was anyway we could do daytime, we would already.
Does anyone know if the college are obligated to allow us to continue our training at the time they stated in the begining? I know we have got a year to go, but we want to get this sorted ASAP.
Angel x
get people to sign a form to say what you have said above and hand it in to the top person at the college.
it does seem a bit unfair - have they given you a reason?
It may be that the tutor is no longer able to give them a commitment so they have had to find another who can only do days?
either a letter about this or a request for a meeting at the beginning of your class with either the head of department or college
angel,
may I ask what college it is?
It's Bishop Aucland College.
Reason they give for not doing Level 4 on the evenings, is;
1. It will take up 2 evenings per week
2. The tutors do not want to do 2 extra evenings per week, would mean hiring in another tutor.
I was wondering if a pertition would make a difference?
Love Angel x
Hi Angel
When and if you signed up for the full course, were you given any indication at the time verbally or in writing (brochure etc) that the full course was available evenings?
Well we were only told that levels 1,2 & 3 were all evening courses. There wa no mention of a day course back in the beginning. But like I said, we all work etc, I guess we may have to look into going to another college.
Angel x
hi Angel,
I still suggest that you draft up a letter and get all the students to sign it and send it to the top people at the college urging them to reconsider. At the end of the day, if you have a full quota of students to run the course, then they would be stupid not to snap your hands off.
i am on this course with angel and we were told that it basically shows comitment to counselling for those who go on to level four to give up their jobs or take day release, but for those with family comitments how can you do that we all have to bring up famileys and i am afraid they must come first and with a course like this if you have brought up your family and have lived a "normal" life you can contribute so much to counselling and i thinks it shows lack of foresight for a college not to offer evening classess for these type of courses as most of the studets for these are mature who have a life and wish to combine the two. on our next class i think we will ask the other studets how they feel and maybe if there is enough of us interested we may be able to petition the college but we have to remember it all comes down to money in the long term
Same old story....
i am on this course with angel and we were told that it basically shows comitment to counselling for those who go on to level four to give up their jobs or take day release, but for those with family comitments how can you do that we all have to bring up famileys and i am afraid they must come first and with a course like this if you have brought up your family and have lived a "normal" life you can contribute so much to counselling and i thinks it shows lack of foresight for a college not to offer evening classess for these type of courses as most of the studets for these are mature who have a life and wish to combine the two. on our next class i think we will ask the other studets how they feel and maybe if there is enough of us interested we may be able to petition the college but we have to remember it all comes down to money in the long term
Sadly its the same old story these days with colleges being run like businesses - it reall means the only way to try and change things is to put the management under pressure. I'm a teacher in a sixth form college and its sad the way the students are treated at times and what they are expected to do just because it suits the college, good luck!
Oh and sorry I wasn't a lot of help!!!
Hi
I'm very lucky as I'm on a level 4 diploma evening course at Enfield college. We do one evening a week and 6 full weekends a year which can be quite exhausting for both the students and the tutors. As most of the students work or have family commitments the weekends work well providing you have a supportive partner
Unfortunately it is 'bums on seats' as we were told in one course, the lecturers have to get as many students on the course as possible, otherwise it doesnt happen.
and, this is not directed at all you hard working students ( i was one once) but it is the other reason why so many of us 'pass'. They have to have a certain amount pass, the same in schools, does this make a mockery i ask myself!!!
Hi Angel
I was at Bishop Auckland college last year. Have PM'd you with further details!