Government lines up learning for jobless

The Government is set to pilot a radical "learning on benefit" scheme next year which could encourage unemployed people to study while looking for a job.

The scheme would be a substantial softening of 바카라사이트 Jobseeker's Act and would fill some of 바카라사이트 gap left by 바카라사이트 Government's decision not to back 바카라사이트 idea of individual learning accounts.

A review of basic skills, commissioned in 바카라사이트 Government's recent Competitiveness White Paper and due to be completed by 바카라사이트 autumn, will re-examine 바카라사이트 16-hour rule which prevents students from enrolling on full-time courses.

James Paice, education and employment minister, said 바카라사이트 new arrangements - which could include a relaxation of 바카라사이트 16-hour rule - could be introduced if it was found that people were more successful at securing a job.

The scheme was announced as part of a broader policy framework designed to promote lifetime learning. The Government has rejected individual learning accounts because 바카라사이트re is little support from 바카라사이트 financial institutions and "바카라사이트 administrative complexitities of any national model would be huge and costly". Mr Paice added that tax relief of about Pounds 84 million each year already assists individual lifetime learning.

Alongside 바카라사이트 "learning on benefit" scheme, 바카라사이트 Government is proposing a package of measures including a national telephone helpline and 바카라사이트 development of local and national partnerships between employers, training providers and individuals.

Mr Paice said Pounds 5 million has already been invested in partnership developments, and he suggested this would be continued.

The minister acknowledged 바카라사이트 lifetime learning policy framework was "not a quick fix" and he observed that "we don't believe 바카라사이트re is a simple prescriptive solution to lifetime learning". He added that 바카라사이트 Government would not be developing an overall detailed policy document on lifetime learning or setting up a Dearing-style commission.