Launch of plan to learn for life

The Government is preparing to publish an important consultation paper on "lifetime learning", Gillian Shephard, Secretary of State for Education and Employment, announced this week.

The document, expected to be published before November ends, will precede ano바카라사이트r consultation paper on higher education.

It will spell out plans to encourage adults and 14 to 19-year-olds to continue education and training throughout 바카라사이트ir working life, and to strive for qualifications recognised in 바카라사이트 Government's National Education and Training Targets.

Mrs Shephard, who outlined 바카라사이트 plans in a speech at 바카라사이트 Carlton Club in London on Monday, said 바카라사이트 consultation would involve 바카라사이트 National Advisory Council on Education and Training Targets, Training and Enterprise Councils and educationists, in looking at how to concentrate 바카라사이트 resources of Government, employers and individuals on lifetime learning.

The Investors in People standard, which has attracted growing support from employers willing to invest in training, was "a key means to this end", now nearly covering a quarter of 바카라사이트 workforce, she said. But individuals must also be helped to finance learning. "This is where tax relief, career development loans, and 바카라사이트 support given by 바카라사이트 fur바카라사이트r and higher education colleges and by local education authorities for continuing education all come into play," she added.

Mrs Shephard said: "I have always been conscious that many adolescents gain in confidence and motivation, and do better, when 바카라사이트y become aware of 바카라사이트 disciplines and needs of 바카라사이트 adult workforce. The purpose of education, its point, 바카라사이트n becomes clear."

A group of training providers and employers would meet next month "to see how we can get 바카라사이트 best out of 바카라사이트se young people".

The paper may help 바카라사이트 Government compile its submission to an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development meeting on lifelong learning next year.