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Falling salary levels for teachers in further education colleges could prompt an exodus of qualified lecturers according to lecturers union Natfhe which published a pay survey this week, writes Alison Utley.

Unless urgent steps are taken to address declining pay a major staffing crisis looms for colleges according to the responses of more than 1,800 lecturers and managers.

Pay had steadily declined over the last ten years and half of respondents earned less than Pounds 20,000 a year. A fifth got less than Pounds 15,000. Fewer than 10 per cent of those surveyed earned more than Pounds 25,000 and many were considering returning to the private sector.

Natfhe will be seeking a Pounds 1,500 flat-rate increase plus a catch up payment for lecturers still on old contracts who have been denied a pay rise for three years.