Post on 04-Jan-2016
Whatever happened to the Whatever happened to the Learning Age?Learning Age?
Bridgewater
Alan Tuckett - 7th July 2006
222
Initial Government priorities Initial Government priorities and commitmentsand commitments
raise standards widen participation expand participation create UfI introduce ILA’s
333
Advice givenAdvice givenTomlinson inclusive learningKennedy adult entitlement – level 3Fryer communities learnDearing economic and social case to expand h.e.Moser 7 million lack some basic educationSkills Task Force level 3 entitlement 20-24; level 2 25+
444
Learning Age – policy Learning Age – policy principlesprinciples
investing in learning to benefit everyone lifting barriers to learning putting people first sharing responsibility with employers,
employees and the community achieving world class standards and value
for money working together
555
VisionVision
“As well as securing our economic future, learning has a wider contribution. It helps make ours a civilised society, develops the spiritual side of our lives and promotes active citizenship. Learning enables people to play a full part in their community. It strengthens the family, the neighbourhood and consequently the nation.”“The Learning Age”, DfEE
666
Government rationale for Government rationale for lifelong learninglifelong learning
Economic
national competitiveness
business success personal
employability and prosperity
Social
fair inclusive society
active citizenship strong families personal fulfilment
777
open competitive markets deeply entrenched democratic cultures high levels of human and social capital
What makes countries perform What makes countries perform well?well?
888
Learning and Skills ActLearning and Skills Act
expansion - further education - higher education - community education
reform funding reform qualifications stimulate demand contest social exclusion improve quality new deals
999
What is reasonable?What is reasonable?
For adults the Act says “The Council must secure the provision of reasonable facilities” for post-19 education. Clause 3.(2) explains what this means. “Facilities are reasonable if…. The facilities are of such a quantity and quality that the Council can reasonably be expected to secure their provision.”
101010
Other policy developmentsOther policy developments
devolved administration skills for life neighbourhood renewal strategy success for all race relations amendment act disability discrimination act
111111
New initiatives:New initiatives:
UfI union learning fund adult and community learning fund LSC individual learning accounts e-universities
121212
Target culture:Target culture:
skills for life targets level 3 h.e. – 50% 18-30s participation target
then level 2
131313
Level 5
Level 4
Level 3
Level 2
Level 1
Entry
democra
cy
democra
cymerit
ocracy
merit
ocracy
priorit
ies for
priorit
ies for
public fu
nding
public fu
nding
141414
Skills Strategy 1 and 2Skills Strategy 1 and 2
sector skills councils qualifications reform
- prospect of credit accumulation system level 2 entitlement educational maintenance allowances learning communities employer training pilots new deal for skills
151515
FE White PaperFE White Paper
mission – ‘clarification’ for colleges
level 3 entitlement to age 25 Train to Gain ILA reintroduction qualification reform (diplomas) workforce development contestability raising quality
Carried forward in Bill announced in next Queen’s speech
161616
NIACE’s 8 groupsNIACE’s 8 groups part-time and temporary workers those employed in businesses which are “cool to training” workers aged 45+ who are too often neglected when it
comes to training and development migrants women – especially from ethnic minority communities
culturally resistant to high levels of female employment outside the home
people currently on welfare benefits ex-offenders adults with literacy levels at and below ‘entry level 2’
and the existing workforce needs to strengthen skills
171717
Trends in participation in adult learning, by Trends in participation in adult learning, by socio-economic class: 1996-2004socio-economic class: 1996-2004
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
1990 1996 1999 2002 2003 2004
Pe
rce
nta
ge
Total
AB
C1
C2
DE
And yet?And yet?
Year
181818
Future intentions to learn, by Future intentions to learn, by learning statuslearning status
86
12
66
30 30
67
14
85
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Pe
rce
nta
ge
current recent past never
likely to learn unlikely to learn
191919
202020
Current/recent participation in Current/recent participation in adult learning, by ageadult learning, by age
80
62
4742
3730
1410
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Pe
rce
nta
ge
17-19 20-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75+
Age
212121
UK population changesUK population changes
The third age is growing dramatically!
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
1998 2001 2006 2011 2016 2021
Over 55s increase from 25% to 33% of population
(Th
ou
sa
nd
s)
65+
55-64
15-24
Source: Office of National Statistics, 2001
Age
222222
-500 0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500
Whole workforce
Elementary Occupations
Process, Plant & Machine
Sales & Customer Service
Personal Service
Skilled Trades
Admin, Clerical & Secretarial
Assoc Professional & Technical
Professionals
Managers & Senior Officials
(Thousands)New growth/decline Overall demand
Source: Projections of Occupations and Qualifications 2000/2001, IER, published March 2001
Occupational Demand to 2010Occupational Demand to 2010
13,521
232323 Source: Age data from Labour Force Survey, Spring 2001
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
2010 Need 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64
None Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5
Workforce qualifications by Workforce qualifications by ageage
242424
3.0
3.5
4.0
4.5
5.0
5.5
6.0
6.5
7.0
7.5
Canada France Germany Japan UnitedKingdom
United States
Country
Tota
l %Percentage GDP spent on Percentage GDP spent on
educational instituteseducational institutes- Selected G8 Counties- Selected G8 Counties
252525
Other benefits prolongs active citizenship inhibits onset of Alzheimer’s and
Parkinson’s learners 13% more likely to give up smoking learners 34% increase in racial tolerance learners much less likely to be politically
cynical learners less dissatisfied with their lives
262626
ChallengesChallenges
rampant utilitarianism employer engagement culture active citizenship money!
272727
LSC-funded FE 19 plus (excluding ACL)
2004/5 out turn 3,096,853
2005/6
LSC estimate
out turn
2,760,000
2,601,979
2006/7
LSC estimate
out turn
2,306,487
?
282828
Big ConversationBig Conversation
• What principles should determine how limited amounts of public funding are best used?
• What should employers pay for – and what should be the balance between regulation and persuasion?
• How much should individuals be expected to contribute to their learning? How much should this vary by level or subject?
• What has the government got right and where do you fear it’s going wrong?