The UK Government has announced plans to remove funding from post-16 music education, in a move to end funding for the current range of Music Vocational Level 3 qualifications.
UK Music's director of education and skills, Dr Oliver Morris, called the decision “harmful” and called on the government to reverse plans to defund the education sector by 2026.
“Young people and education professionals are facing a difficult time with issues surrounding the end of current music qualification funding over the next two years,” he said.
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UK Music said the current plans would leave around 30,000 young people with “no choice” in music career paths, affecting 16-19 year olds studying level 3 qualifications.
These qualifications are designed to develop your skills in both music production and performance, and build your path to a music career. Plans to cut funding to the education sector have been met with opposition from education and industry leaders.
“Pausing funding will allow us to properly pilot the new AAQ and make it easier to transition without losing or harming entire student populations,” Dr. Morris said. Masu.
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UK Music chief executive Tom Keel is now calling on the UK government to halt these plans. In a letter to Education Secretary Gillian Keegan, Mr Keir warned that defunding the sector would have “serious consequences”.
It will impact “learners, educators, the talent pipeline and ultimately the music industry” and will contribute “GVA to the economy, generate £4 billion in exports and employ 210,000 people.” “I do,” Kiel wrote.
The letter proposes a meeting with the Education Secretary to demonstrate the “impact” of the decision and calls for “an immediate end to the suspension of funding for all music qualifications”.
Read the full letter here.
Gemma Ross is Mixmag's assistant editor.follow her twitter
