Welfare Reform on the Web (June 2005): Education - UK - Training

Colleges warn of threat to adult education

M. Green

Financial Times, May 24th 2005, p.4

Colleges have warned that 200,000 places on adult education and training courses will be cut from September as the government diverts resources to those without basic skills or GCSE exam passes. John Brennan, chief executive of the Association of Colleges, said the decision to prioritise basic skills courses and an entitlement to free tuition for anyone without GCSE qualifications would lead to deep cuts elsewhere.

Skills: getting on in business, getting on at work

Department for Education and Skills

London: TSO, 2005 (Cm 6485)

The reforms set out in this White Paper will combine to reshape the vocational training system in the UK so that it is driven by the aspirations and needs of employers and individuals. The White Paper proposes:

• Giving employers a strong voice in the design and content of vocational qualifications through Sector Skills Councils
• Giving employers access to public funds to commission the training they need for their employees.
• Full cost of tuition for level 2 qualifications (GCSEs) to be met by the government
• Creation of a network of brokers to liaise between employers and local training providers.
• Creation of a network of Skills Academies at the apex of the training system to design and deliver training programmes of the highest quality.