TEACHERS have slammed government plans to withdraw funding from vocational training schemes, warning that this will worsen inequalities faced by disadvantaged pupils and students.

The government is to withdraw funding for applied general qualifications schemes which give students practical education in addition to classroom teaching.

The schemes include Btec (Business and Technology Education Council) training, which provides vocational training in subjects such as childcare, construction, engineering, health and social care, hospitality, information technology and computing, public and protective services, science, sport, transport, travel and tourism.