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?