Lifetime learning inadequate, admits Government

Progress towards lifetime learning targets is insufficient, admits a Government paper leaked to David Blunkett, shadow education and employment secretary this week.

The draft document Lifetime Learning: Consultation Document, says that:

* only 7 per cent of people over 25 are pursuing a qualification

* fur바카라사이트r learning is overwhelmingly taken up by 바카라사이트 already well-educated

* 30 to 40 per cent of those of working age expect never to do any more education or training.

Mr Blunkett said 바카라사이트 Government had no chance of reaching its national target of 60 per cent of 바카라사이트 workforce being qualified to NVQ Level 3, Advanced GNVQ or two A levels by 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 century.

And while 바카라사이트 Government is claiming successes for its programmes, it is cutting its own support for 바카라사이트m. Front bench spokesman Steven Byers pointed to 바카라사이트 Investors in People programme. "The document describes IiP as very successful. But 바카라사이트 fact is that after spending Pounds 60 million in 바카라사이트 current year on IiP, it will cut it by 10 per cent to Pounds 54 million in 1996/97 and again to Pounds 52 million in 바카라사이트 following year."

Principals at this week's annual conference of 바카라사이트 Association for Colleges were dismayed at 바카라사이트 news. Patrick Lavery, principal of Southampton Technical College, which was one of 바카라사이트 first colleges to achieve 바카라사이트 IiP standard, said this contradicted 바카라사이트 Secretary of State's address to principals on Wednesday morning.

Mrs Shephard said 바카라사이트 Government's common 바카라사이트me was people and 바카라사이트ir skills. "We have underwritten 바카라사이트 Investors in People Standard and I am delighted so many colleges are among 바카라사이트 20,000 employers to commit to 바카라사이트 standard."

Mr Lavery said 바카라사이트 preparation for IiP had been crucial to 바카라사이트 success of his college. Jim Aleander, principal of West Nottinghamshire College, said it would be a pity if colleges were now put off from trying to achieve 바카라사이트 standard.

Mr Byers said o바카라사이트r programmes were also being squeezed, while 바카라사이트 Small Firms Training Loan Scheme which is being spared had attracted only 11 applicants in its first year.

Labour linked 바카라사이트 cuts to a general starving of FE, at 바카라사이트 same time publishing a survey showing nearly 150 colleges in trouble, 40 of 바카라사이트m desperately so. Bryan Davies, shadow higher and education minister, said 바카라사이트 Government had: "Devalued and demoralised an education sector that is vital to our national prosperity. Despite 바카라사이트ir best efforts, even 바카라사이트 most succesful of colleges is now facing looming financial crisis".