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The Framework for Widening Participation Chapter 2 |
| This Government is committed to the establishment of a learning society in which all people have opportunities to succeed. Increasing access to learning and providing opportunities for success and progression are fundamental to the Government’s strategy. These are the keys to social cohesion and economic success. |
[LW Ch 1]; should create a national strategy for post-16 learning to widen not simply increase participation [LW Ch 1]; and should set new and comprehensive "National Learning Targets"[LW Ch 1] |
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2.1 The Government recognises that it must give the lead in creating a learning society. It has set out its vision in The Learning Age. That places learning at the heart of our economic and social policies. It reflects the Government’s determination that lifelong learning should be for the many, and not just the few. Investing in Young People, the University for Industry and Individual Learning Accounts are essential elements in this strategy. 2.2 The Government issued a consultation document, Targets for our Future, in December 1997. We have set out alternative options for targets for post-school achievement by young people; a target for adults; and a target for employers. National targets are a means of encouraging everyone to develop their talents, and to realise their potential. It is essential to set targets in areas relevant to the needs of the economy in the years ahead, and to provide benchmarks by which we can measure national progress in improving skills and gaining qualifications. We will set out new targets in the light of the consultation, which ends next month.
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2.3 The Government recognises the FE sector as central to its educational policies and wider social agenda. We have already backed that with announcements of some £100 million of additional funding for colleges compared with previous plans, and will take forward the future needs of the sector within our Departmental Spending Review. We have taken opportunities to promote and to endorse the widespread excellence and good practice which exists within colleges.
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should give priority in public funding within post-16 learning to general education and transferable vocational learning, including key skills, at and leading to level 3; the costs of ensuring that all can succeed to level 3 must be recognised [LW Ch 4] ; and should ensure that education to level 3 is free for all young people, and for adults without basic skills or who are socially or economically deprived; tax relief should be extended to all learning programmes up to level 3 which are funded by individuals [LW Ch 4] |
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2.4 As set out in Chapter 2 of The Learning Age, the aim of public funding should be to increase participation and attainment at all levels where that will provide most benefit for society. The Government recognises the urgency of improving the nation’s qualification base. Skills audits show that there is also very significant underachievement compared with other industrial nations at lower levels. 7 million adults have no formal qualifications, and the number of jobs requiring low level skills is declining. 62% of the adult population of working age does not have a level 3 qualification, and over 20% of adults have poor basic skills. To widen participation, we must concentrate, at least initially, on those with few if any qualifications: people who usually also experience social and economic disadvantage. By using greater attainment at level 2 as a stepping stone, we will encourage more people to attain level 3. This will be a benchmark of our long term success. 2.5 Tax relief already exists for many vocational courses. Our proposals for Individual Learning Accounts will assist many people to study to level 3. All basic skills courses will continue to be free. The Government is committed to ensuring that learning in the key skills becomes a common part of the education and training of young people after 16.
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