The Welsh Assembly Government is understood to be considering a radical overhaul of the body which oversees post-16 education and training in Wales.

The Institute of Welsh Affairs claims in a new report the administration wants a more focused approach to the £800m a year work of Education Learning Wales (Elwa).

Better management of post-16 education is sought

A new management system, costing an extra £220,000, is being suggested in the short-term to meet the recommendations to split Elwa's control of the National Council for Education and Training (NCET) and the Higher Education Funding Council Wales (HEFCW).

But the review goes on to recommend longer term aims to have a single body, offering a "holistic vision" for post-16 education.

The review by senior assembly servant Hugh Rawlings echoes the recommendations made by the assembly's education committee to the Richards Commission, which is undertaking an analysis of the assembly's powers.

The group was struggling to avoid the logic of its own policy prescription for a holistic vision for post-16 education

Hugh Rawlings, senior civil servant, Welsh Assembly

The formation of one overall body, though, would require primary legislation being approved in the House of Commons.

The current running of the NCET and HEFCW by one chief executive has created an overload of work, leading to the recommendations for additional managers to ensure the smooth running of the two organisations.

'Awkward'

A study of the group found that current chief executive Steve Martin was spending 80% of his time on NCET affairs as was the finance director's own time.

Mr Rawlings said the recommendations of the former Welsh Office in 1999 for Elwa's running of the two education councils were "awkward"

He commented: "The group was struggling to avoid the logic of its own policy prescription for a holistic vision for post-16 education, which may well be thought to imply a single organisation responsible for this whole area."

A formal announcement on the proposals is due to be made by the Welsh Assembly Government in the new year.

Details of the proposals are contained in the IWA¹s assembly monitoring report, The Dragon Takes a Different Route.

A statement on behalf of the NCET and HEFCW said: "We wholeheartedly welcome the recommendations of the Rawlings Report to further invest in the future of post-16 learning in Wales.

"The recommendations of the report acknowledge not only the significatn achievements of both councils to date, but also the far-reaching challenges ahead.

"We will continue to work closely as the two bodies reponsible for the planning, funding and promotion of all post-16 learning to maximise and improve learning opportunities for Wales."