A HUGE college serving 20,000 students will soon become reality in south Essex.

Thurrock and Basildon College is set to merge with South East Essex College in Southend from January 2010, in a move designed to transform education in the area.

Joining the two colleges under the name South Essex College of Further and Higher Education will offer more choice for people who want to stay in education, project leaders say.

Seevic College in Thundersley is not involved.

Jan Hodges, principal and chief executive of South East Essex College, and the proposed principal of the merged colleges, said: “Through this merger proposal we are looking to achieve improved quality and increased participation in learning with greater choice and opportunities across Thurrock, Basildon and Southend.

“The colleges have complementary curriculum areas and so by joining forces, South East Essex College and Thurrock and Basildon College will be able to offer a much wider and more comprehensive offer for learners of all ages across south Essex and beyond.”

The planned merger has been developed by both colleges following a long period of talks sparked in 2004, after a review of learning and skills in the area found improvements were needed.

The five key aims of the merger are the provision of more choice and higher quality education for learners, the increased availability of specialist expertise, a broader curriculum and increased student numbers resulting in more skilled people in the jobs market.

If the proposal is agreed, new campuses being considered by the Government could be built in Basildon and Grays, replacing the existing buildings.

By 2012 the merged college would have courses in three new central campuses in Southend, Grays and Basildon.

A public consultation on the proposal is now under way. After the consultation period a full merger proposal will be drawn up and presented to the East of England Learning and Skills Council.

Residents wishing to contribute to the consultation should write to Terry Collin, Partnership Director, LSC Essex, Redwing House, Hedgerows Business Park, Colchester Road, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 5PB by 5pm, Friday May 29.