Big Conversation: Who should pay for adult learning?

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NIACE Launched a Big Conversation for Adult Learners' Week.

The UK has the fifth biggest economy in the world – but its people are ageing. Two in three of the jobs of the next ten years will be filled by adults or by migrants - because there will simply not be enough young people to fill their parents’ shoes when finally we retire. More and more of tomorrow’s jobs will require higher-level know-how. Adult learning is not an option – it’s an economic essential.

Learning also contributes to community wellbeing, cultural creativity and social solidarity – in ways that can be quantified.

The question is how to pay. There’s limited appetite for higher taxes – and despite increases in recent years, budgets are tightening, leading to cuts in courses for learners and job losses for teachers. The government’s answer is to make some courses free for some adults but to expect everyone else to dig deeper into their pockets for everything else. Whether this will work is unproven – in October 2005 overall numbers of people aged 19+ in publicly-funded English further education were down 9% (to just one and a half million on the previous year). Every age cohort over 30 decreased, most steeply among over 60’s where numbers were down by 23.8%.

We thought it was time for a grown-up conversation about grown-ups’ learning.

During the Autumn on 2006 we called on people who recognise the vital importance of lifelong learning to help us to secure a new settlement by considering the following four questions:

We encouraged learners, lecturers, trainers and managers, colleges, course groups and other organisations to consider these questions. and to  us (and their MP) about their conclusions.

We collected your responses and submitted a dossier of evidence, opinion and analysis to the government. This report can be downloaded below.

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Podcast

In the first podcast from the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education, Alan Tuckett, Director of NIACE, talks about the Big Conversation and the challenges ahead at this crucial time for adult learning. He sets out the NIACE viewpoint on the need for a coherent settlement for adults but stresses that he also wants to hear what others think.

To download the podcast, click on the link below.  If it does not automatically start playing, save the file onto your computer and then play it back through your usual media player.

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The Big Conversation - what you told us.

“We are watching the swift execution of a 200 year old service.”
Janice Croft

NIACE received hundreds of responses to the Big Conversation from providers and learners who are passionate about the future of adult learning. Here’s a selection of what people said…

Learning…what is it good for?

“To gain the essential skills required to function in society should be the free and equal right of every citizen. Education is vital to a successful, caring and growth based society. Research has demonstrated that education is the pathway out of ill health and poverty. This should always be a priority.”
Cheryl Bucci

“People need to be shown that having poor skills is nothing to be ashamed of, though with it does come responsibility to develop oneself and brings positive rewards in terms of self-esteem and capability.”
Andrew Osborne, Skills for Life Tutor, Islington

“Adult education…changes lives and frequently gives a structure and purpose to a person's life. We all have mountains of anecdotal evidence, sometimes we never know the impact AE has until years and chance meetings later - it certainly doesn't show up on learner satisfaction surveys.”
Janice Croft

“There are people here that want to get to work, to college, to training, even to Uni, in order to support themselves and their families and they most definitely can. But they need the support we offer them…or it is just too difficult.”
Marion Archer, Swansea

“I feel that the choice is simply, educate people and enable them to look after themselves or the State will end up doing it anyway.”
Karenina Ariff

“Over the years I have benefited hugely from taking advantage of affordable courses offered by Adult Ed. I have done everything from Belly dancing to computer studies, courses which have improved my health and well-being, helped me make new friends, improved my skills at work and made me a more interesting person. These courses sustain you when you are lonely, or help you relax when life is stressful and give you hope for change when life becomes difficult.”
Pam Eastwood

Part of the Culture

“Pub quizzes are a growth industry...Eats, Shoots and Leaves is a best-selling book...ICT magazines line newsagents' shelves...weblogs, Google and message-boards have become fonts of all knowledge.”
Maggie Brown

“Learning Greek, Mathematics, or how to knock in a nail are all useful in their different ways. However, we have to distinguish between learning and entertainment because all of us expect to pay for entertainment. Sometimes the distinction may not be entirely obvious, for example, is a theatrical performance of a Shakespeare play entertainment or a learning experience?”
Leeds Older People's Forum

At what price?

“I am a firm believer that education is a right not a privilege, but I also believe that investment in one’s own development is twice as valuable as the money invested in it.”
Denise Burness, Head of Learning and Skills, HMP Haverigg

“Many of my learners have had to leave classes because they cannot afford the full fee (over 60s), others because we are no longer able to offer crèche facilities.”
Mary McDonald

“If learning…is to be encouraged as part of government initiatives to reduce poverty…it has to be ‘free to all’.”
Andy Wallace, Project Manager, Southampton City Council

“There is ample evidence that many adults had a bad experience at school, but enjoy and feel valued in FE, and are therefore successful. If these people are priced out of the FE experience, they may never have the opportunity to progress. This would not only disadvantage the individuals, but also prevent them from making their full contribution to society.”
Heather Thomas

“I wonder if part of the problem is that people have to sign up and pay for the whole year at once - surely a promotion each term would be more satisfactory for people. I am an ex teacher and find the fact that we are not promoting 'educational' activities that simply encourage people to keep thinking and questioning a real disappointment.”
Chris Linegar

“Those wishing to gain ‘leisure’ skills should be expected to fund their education, but those who are on low incomes should be funded to take part.”
Cheryl Bucci

“The most vulnerable in society are going to be hit the hardest as organisations strive to survive by only offering the provision most likely to be funded.”
Janice Croft

“There is a very real problem. I live on my own, and can only just manage on my income, but do not qualify for benefits. I could in no way pay the full fees. Like many others in my situation I would have to stop learning. I have worked hard and enjoyed learning German, which I had no chance to do at school. I had no knowledge of the language, but completed my A-Level with a grade C three years ago.”
Mary Higgins

Who should pay for what?

“It…leads to ridiculous situations where on the same course you pay less if you ‘sit the test’ or pay more if you don’t want a qualification.”
Linda Lytollis, Northumberland

“Fee levels for adults should be defined nationally. What you pay in Bath should be the same as in Bognor.”
Jacqui Buffton, Bath & North East Somerset Learning Partnership

“Skills for Life classes should attract a very low fee because of their positive impact on people’s lives. It is a good idea not to fund the obvious “hobby” courses where the same people enrol on the same course year on year, like a sort of club.”
Heather Thomas

“If people want to learn yoga, tai-chi, bellydancing, upholstering, Chinese cooking, pottery, basket weaving etc, they must pay the full course fee. The age-old argument about single mothers and other low earners who cannot afford to pay does not hold true. As a tutor in ACL, I know that this is a matter of priority. These people can afford to spend a fortune in pubs and on tobacco and buying silly and useless things. So, instead of squandering their money, they could spend it on something useful like learning.”
Herbert Holzinger

“When partner learning providers have attempted to charge for entry, the numbers attending have dropped by 90%.”
Andy Wallace, Project Manager, Southampton City Council

“The problem for most of us is possibly the continuous waste of public money and lack of accountability.”
Gordon L Sim, Minety Electrical

“Public funding should be used to offer all adults an entitlement to a minimum curriculum, available locally and at a subsidised cost.”
Jan Walker, Bath and North East Somerset

“The financial responsibility for education should be jointly funded by businesses and government. After all who is it who benefits from educated, more employable people.”
Dean Waller

What role Government?

“Unfortunately, for this Government education is purely for utilitarian purposes and has no value beyond that.”
Dr Alan Shadforth

“Why does the government not realise that the fine work done in school means little, if we do not continue to provide an equally well resourced adult service.”
Sean Appleby-Simpkin, Derby

“The government’s idea to up-skill the country and to make certain qualifications free is a good move. However withdrawing funding to some of the other courses severely jeopardises the chances of the lower income families to participate in education, which is ludicrous and backward.”
Cheryl Bucci

“I really believe that the government should pay 75% at least towards the cost of education in this country. On one hand they are complaining that there is a skills shortage yet they continue to block 18+ access to learning with top up fees and debt creating student loans. Once again the unskilled and the working class are being blocked from attaining professional middle class careers.”
Jennifer Smedley, Community Support Worker, Liverpool

“Why on earth is the government taking resources away from adult education when it is a huge part of the solution to almost anything.”
Marion Archer, Swansea

“I took early retirement from my job on the steelworks and wanted something to keep the grey matter moving and found a computer course that suited me. I have passed all my exams and would like to continue with a new course in September but the cost could be too much for me to afford. I would implore the government to help people that want to learn and maybe could be a benefit to society.”
Kevin Landick, Scunthorpe

“On balance, the government has got it right. It is time that funding for these silly ‘self-development’ courses is withdrawn.”
Herbert Holzinger

“I am dismayed at the way money is being taken from Adult Education and poured into the basic education of 16 – 19 year olds. Why should adults be denied education to pay the price of a failed Secondary Education system? How are these young people who have not learned the basics at school going to suddenly turn into serious students? I fear that, by and large, it is a huge waste of resources at the expense of adult learners.”
Anthony Wilson, Burley-in-Wharfedale

“A lot of education is wasted on school leavers who do not know what they want to do. Once they have been out in the real world for a few years they are ready to make those sort of decisions and return to education. That is when they should be funded and funded properly. Current education policy has got it the wrong way round.”
Dean Waller

“The government needs to know how important our provision is and how reductions to the service will cost them more than maintaining it. Many people who attend our classes who need the chance to try life again, they gradually gain the confidence and self-esteem to move forward. Without this friendly, doorstep provision the doctors and health service will be coping with more depressed/ill people.”
Jenny Harriman, Brixham Adult & Community Learning

“England and Wales has a proud history of adult education provision with broad and innovative curriculum. This is going to disappear with current government emphasis on funding only for learning which has clearly defined employment pathways.”
Jan Walker, Bath and North East Somerset

…and employer?

“FE should be about employability, training and retraining, for all ages.”
Janice Croft

“Employers should be required to have learning / personal development as part of employment requirements.”
Georgina Turton, Learning Development Officer, Thirsk

“Large employers should pay for the cost of training staff. In the case of public sector employers this is essentially public funding anyway, so they should be bound to provide training. For SMEs there should be a sliding scale of subsidies according to the size of the company. Training levies and regulation are needed.”
Lois Thorn, Connexions

“It is understandable that employers do not expect to pay for their staff to gain skills that should have been attained in the compulsory school system, as tax payers already pay for that.”
Cheryl Bucci

“The employer should be expected to make a reasonable contribution…paid time off…would help break down barriers to learning. They would reap the benefits of a more skilled and stable workforce.”
Brian Pierrepoint, Learner Rep

“Developing existing staff is far more economical than continually training new staff. Allowing employees time to study, providing support in the workplace etc all go a long way in making employees feel they are valued. It is not always necessary to ‘pay’ in hard cash.”
Denise Burness, Head of Learning and Skills, HMP Haverigg

“In place of embedding Basic Skills into training, embedding interest, new experience, understanding, enquiry, relevance, ownership and reward into learning will create a far sturdier foundation on which to build an engaged adult population possessing the motivation and skills to hone their abilities to meet employers' needs.”
Maggie Brown

“It is hard to argue against the Competitive Britain agenda – without earning our keep we can not pay for anything.”
Janice Croft

The healthy option

“If we are to stay healthy and be a minimum cost on the health and care services we need to be mentally, socially and physically active.”
John Galsworthy

“Good health depends not only on diet and exercise but on mental stimulation and social interaction. It ought to be obvious to Government agencies that healthy people need less NHS attention, but joined-up thinking has never been a strength of politicians or civil servants.”
Alison Fairgrieve

“I am on long-term incapacity benefit and DLA. Last September I attempted to enrol on two courses which had been of great benefit to me. To my shock and distress I found that I could NOT because I was required to pay the full fee and pay it all at the outset. That totalled £360. People on long-term benefits simply do not have that kind of money floating around. There was no way of paying by instalments. I used to call the courses I did my community care. Now there is none.”
Isobel Lane

“Surely it is of benefit for the mental and physical well-being of older people that they should get out and continue stimulating activities. No use if we can not afford it. If Tony Blair is so keen - as he says - to keep the nation healthy why have all concessions for senior citizens been cut - keep-fit, art, yoga etc”
Olive Ferguson

“Adult classes keep people’s bodies and minds active, their technology skills up to date and helps their mental and social well-being.”
Linda Lytollis, Northumberland

Ageing nation

“Remember that learning at the older end of the age range may not necessarily want or need education for employment, but for companionship, stimulation and a belief that they can have an active part in educating the next generation.”
Denise Burness, Head of Learning and Skills, HMP Haverigg

“It is still very difficult for people to return to education in later life, this is mainly because of the financial hardship involved.”
Dean Waller

“All these skills I have learnt have made a person who is of value to my community. Now approaching retirement I would wish to continue with what has been a life full of discovery and learning. I would be saddened if I, and those like me, could not continue on this path of knowledge. It is thanks to my college that my life has been so full and I can use my skills to benefit others in my community.”
Hilary Brown, Leek

“It’s hard for an older person on state pension to justify spending ‘x’ amount of pounds on a course when the electric bill needs paying.”
James O’Flynn, Age Concern Leicester

“As an adult learner who is retired, I have had to cease my computer lessons as I can no longer afford them, due to the removal of adult funding.”
Ron Parris

“I have been attending a pressed flower class for a few years and was appalled when told last week that the fees were going up…We were told that the Government want to encourage the 16+ to take exams. As the majority of the class are pensioners I can see the class will fold. I have e-mailed my local MP and asked her if she wants us to sit at home and just wait to die? I thought the Government wanted to encourage pensioners to take part in classes and get out!”
Ann Hedges

“I feel the government is not considering the future of the ageing population and workforce. We have worked for over a century to develop adult education and community participation for all and we are returning to the days of only the wealthy will be educated.”
Sue Somerville

“I am very alarmed to hear that there is talk of even more Adult Education classes to be axed because of funds. I have attended Clait, Clait Plus, E.C.D.L. and Desk Top Publishing and found these lessons invaluable, as in this day and age everything is computerised. It has given me far more confidence in many areas of life. Classes give us a social life mixing with different people which I have missed since retiring, some of us would never see another person from one week to the next.”
SEA Saunders

Qualifications

“The accreditation and certification of some…courses is very necessary as they lead to qualifications that are required by our local industries or can lead to career enhancement.”
Linda Lytollis, Northumberland

“As an NHS employee I worry that there will soon be too little funding for professional training/secondment for unqualified staff. I am 27, working class, currently studying for a BSc psychology with the OU because I had to leave traditional Uni after 2 years due to financial difficulties. I am now £15,000 in debt to the government with student loans and have an overdraft of £5K to repay. Without the OU I would not get a degree.”
Jennifer Smedley, Community Support Worker, Liverpool

“I feel the criteria-based, accreditation culture of Lifelong Learning initiatives have missed an opportunity to engage adults in the world of 'learning for pleasure'...weekend gardeners discovering how to manage their new garden pond or the learning that takes place selling, buying and moving house is not valued or recognised...adults are awarded no ownership of their learning - only by proxy if they fulfil requirements to achieve a certificate that may, or may not, enhance their own sense of well-being.”
Maggie Brown

“People who have been out of education for some time find that informal courses ease them back into learning without the qualms of facing tests or assessment.”
Linda Lytollis, Northumberland

“Many people do not want the exams; they simply want to learn for pleasure and leisure and to gain new skills. I know of several people who have decided against an adult course due to the exam issue.”
Bob Stonebridge

“The funding system should not be solely focused on accreditation, informal learning has great value socially and educationally especially for older more isolated people.”
Linda Lytollis, Northumberland

“I feel these cuts are being aimed at senior members of society who may no longer have the need of "Paper Qualifications" and the results of stated aims and objectives are more difficult to quantify. A modest rise in fees has not even been an option. Why do I still pay my taxes?”
Doreen Skiven

“The current focus on the 14-19 age range, Skills for Life qualifications and full Level 2 qualifications is too narrow and too target-driven. The funding restrictions on sub-level 2 work and pre-entry level and the disappearance of the promised funding stream for first-step learning, as well as long-term demographic trends, mean a real danger of a shortage of skills and knowledge in a few years time. The over emphasis on qualifications has meant that the qualifications themselves have become the goal, rather than a mere indication of skills acquired.”
Harrow Lifelong Learning Providers Forum

“Examined courses cause tutors to begin to teach with only the exam in mind. This means the focus is not on a thorough understanding of the subject but getting the certificate by the easiest means possible.”
Linda Lytollis, Northumberland

What now?

“Persuasion has not worked; training levels and regulation are needed.”
Jan Walker, Bath and North East Somerset

“We should be ashamed of ourselves we are allowing this to happen. We should be proud of what we do and we should be screaming and shouting to sustain the service.”
Janice Croft

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Findings

The findings of the Big Conversation have been published in a report entitled The Case for Adult Learning: access all areas.  This report, along with the government's response to it, can be downloaded below.

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