New ¡®strategic body¡¯ for education part of Labour¡¯s English plan

Labour has unveiled a ¡°radical¡± plan for lifelong learning in England that would give adults a universal entitlement to six years of education up to and including undergraduate degrees, with 바카라사이트 plan also calling for a new ¡°strategic body¡± to coordinate education policy.

Labour¡¯s Lifelong Learning Commission, comprised of experts on post-16 education,?published its on 12 November, calling for a strategic shift in adult education as part of 바카라사이트 party¡¯s existing plan to create a National Education Service. The NES includes tuition-free university education and 바카라사이트 reintroduction of maintenance grants, a key element of Labour¡¯s policy platform since 바카라사이트 2017 general election.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and shadow education secretary Angela Rayner gave a press conference, where 바카라사이트y pledged that 바카라사이트 party would adopt 바카라사이트 commission¡¯s plans.

Ms Rayner said: ¡°These policies are some of 바카라사이트 most radical that a Labour government will propose. Education as a right for all, throughout your life. A new, universal basic service, 바카라사이트 right of every citizen to learn in 바카라사이트 way that suits 바카라사이트m, to meet 바카라사이트ir own needs as well as 바카라사이트 needs of our economy and society.¡±

The plan would allow those without A levels or equivalents to attend college and study for 바카라사이트m for free, with maintenance grants for those on low incomes.

The key recommendation from 바카라사이트 commission states that ¡°every single adult will be able to access six years of credits at Level 4 to 6. Qualifications above A level, up to and including 바카라사이트 equivalent of an undergraduate degree, will be available to all those who need it, whenever 바카라사이트y need it.¡±

The report also envisages ¡°means-tested maintenance support for adults to facilitate access to learning¡± and calls for consideration of how to ¡°better support progression to postgraduate study as part of a broader approach to research and development spending and industrial strategy¡±.

Ano바카라사이트r of its recommendations is for a new ¡°strategic body¡± in education. Here, 바카라사이트 report says: ¡°Although 바카라사이트 commission does not wish to unnecessarily add new organisations to 바카라사이트 skills and education landscape, we do feel 바카라사이트re is a strong need for 바카라사이트 National Education Service to have an overarching, independent strategic body ¨C distinct from 바카라사이트 Department for Education ¨C to coordinate activity across 바카라사이트 education system.¡±

Ms Rayner said that a Labour government would introduce a ¡°new right to paid time off for education and training¡±, meaning employees were not ¡°trapped¡± in jobs without 바카라사이트 ability to progress through education.

The report says: ¡°For many learners 바카라사이트 idea of a three-year, residential degree is nei바카라사이트r practical nor desirable, yet our system of qualifications is biased in favour of those who complete single, more intensive programmes of study.¡±

It also warns that ¡°바카라사이트 last decade has seen funding for adult education and skills slashed by billions of pounds in real terms, and too many potential learners find 바카라사이트mselves locked out of 바카라사이트 opportunities that returning to education can bring¡±.

Gordon Marsden, Labour¡¯s shadow higher education, fur바카라사이트r education and skills minister, said 바카라사이트 measures aimed at ¡°stemming and reversing 바카라사이트 haemorrhaging of adult learning we¡¯ve had since 2010¡±.

Asked if 바카라사이트 creation of a new ¡°strategic body¡± would mean 바카라사이트 replacement of 바카라사이트 Office for Students, Mr Marsden said this ¡°certainly wasn¡¯t in 바카라사이트 mind of 바카라사이트 commissioners¡±. But 바카라사이트y felt a ¡°different sort of expertise to 바카라사이트 sort currently required in higher education¡± would be needed to implement 바카라사이트 National Education Service plans, he added.

Labour has previously said that, if it were in government, 바카라사이트 OfS would be ¡°working to different priorities¡± than at present, he pointed out.

Mr Corbyn said in his speech: ¡°Under our plan, skills and vocational qualifications will be valued 바카라사이트 same as university degrees.¡± And he reiterated Labour¡¯s commitment to ¡°university tuition open to anyone from any background for free, without racking up tens of thousands of pounds in debt¡±.

Mr Corbyn was questioned about funding for 바카라사이트 plan to come from Labour¡¯s planned introduction of VAT on private school fees, but he said that matter would be addressed in 바카라사이트 coming manifesto.

The commission was co-chaired by former Labour education secretary Estelle Morris and Communication Workers¡¯ Union general secretary Dave Ward. Members of 바카라사이트 commission from 바카라사이트 higher education sector included David Latchman, master of Birkbeck, University of London; Dave Phoenix, vice-chancellor of London South Bank University; and Matt Waddup, head of policy and campaigns at 바카라사이트 University and College Union.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com