Colleges fail to justify millions in funding

College funding chiefs are struggling to give away millions of pounds for improving standards, because unaccountable colleges are failing to show they will put the funds to good use.

Chief inspector of colleges Jim Donaldson confirmed at the Further Education Funding Council's annual conference last week that he has yet to give away all of the Pounds 35 million standards fund for 1999-2000. And as the fund increases to Pounds 80 million next year, and to Pounds 160 million in 2001-2002, he warned colleges that he could not release funds "unless we are confident that it is being put to good use".

Mr Donaldson said that 244 colleges had received a slice of the Pounds 35 million for 1999-2000.