STUDENTS at Bradford College will tomorrow hold a protest against proposed job cuts, which they say will harm their education and future opportunities.

The students are making a stand against both the cuts to staff by the college and wider Government cuts to higher education.

The threat of scores of staff losing their jobs was raised earlier this month, with the college citing reductions in Government funding and a need to balance its budget.

And the college has also announced that it is looking to outsource some of its cleaning and maintenance services to "improve efficiencies".

The University and College Union said job losses at the College could amount to 140, and have raised the possibility of strike action. Unison, which represents non-teaching staff at the college, estimates the job losses as being closer to 80.

Umar Rafique, Students’ Union Vice-President, said: "We understand the pressure that colleges are facing nationally and we recognise this; however, this is the time for the students to unite to oppose these cuts."

A Bradford College spokesman said: "While we agree that the changes to the funding regime in the education sector are regrettable, Bradford College has identified a number of ways to find savings whilst minimising the impact on our services and the student experience."

The college has 1,493 full and part time staff, 18,631 learners on full and part-time courses and 3,329 enrolled on to Higher Education courses.