Path: Home > News Headlines > April 2008 |
Page last updated 02 May 2008 |
Latest News: April 2008
|
|
Subscribe to the NIACE Podcasts|
Use menu to jump to full story below:
|
Some file on this page are PDF files. Dance organisations encouraged to hold events for Dance Off 2008
Dance organisations across the country are being encouraged to put on showcase events on the weekend of 17th and 18th May 2008 to launch this year’s Adult Learners’ Week - co-ordinated by the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE). Dance Off 2008 will spearhead the activities for Cultural Diversity Weekend - the traditional start to Adult Learners’ Week, the UK’s largest festival of learning.
Dance Off 2008 will be celebrating different styles and forms of dance from all over the world and from cross-cultural traditions. Hundreds of organisations from across the country are planning to hold events offering a range of dances for everyone at any age, degree of skill or experience. These dances range from the French Chantraine dance of expression to Latin American ballroom; salsa and belly dancing to hip-hop and free style and contemporary Caribbean to ballet.
Raksha Mistry, organiser of Dance Off 2008, said:
"Dance is one of our oldest forms of entertainment, communication that everybody can get involved in. Every year Adult Learners’ Week kicks-off by encouraging people to appreciate and celebrate how diverse cultures have added colour and vibrancy to our lives. In previous years thousands of events have taken place to celebrate diversity and this year the focus has turned to dance and the arts."
She continued:
"Not only is dancing is good for your health, it is a chance to meet new people, learn more about different cultures and most importantly to have fun. For dance organisations Dance Off 2008 is a great opportunity to show off what you do and to get more and more people to take up dancing. For further information or to tell us about what you’re planning please contact me on 0116 204 4200 or email me at: alw@niace.org.uk ."
Source: NIACE Press Release: "Dance organisations encouraged to hold events for Dance Off 2008" - [PDF] Released On 24/04/2008
Related Links:
 | Adult Learners' Week Website |
| Download Dance Off 2008 Posters here |
_______________________________
Latest figures show further fall in 'safeguarded' adult learners
55,000 adult learners have been lost to publicly-funded ‘safeguarded’ adult learning in the last year according to the latest figures from the Learning and Skills Council. This now means that in just three years there has been a fall of 184,600 adult learners in programmes for personal fulfilment, civic participation and community development. Apart from the lack of inflationary increases these changes are not the result of Government cuts.
This fall of 55,000 is on top of the 1.4 million adult learning places which have been lost from all publicly-funded adult learning over the last two years.
The Minister for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education, Bill Rammell said:
“Overall funding for FE has increased by 52% in real terms under this Government and we’re seeing large numbers of learners continuing to benefit…In terms of the overall adult participation figures, while these show a downward trend, this is to be expected, as we have prioritised funding away from short courses that don’t lead to progression in education or employment towards courses for those most in need.”
Alan Tuckett, the director for NIACE said:
“The loss of learners could be the result of providers concentrating on more expensive work for disabled and more disadvantaged learners. However such a dramatic decline points out the need to find the right balance between targeted provision and more general adult education. NIACE is keen to hear from its stakeholders how best that balance can be struck.”
He added:
“If the downward trend from the October figures was to continue, learner numbers in the safeguard would be close to disappearing in 5 years time. We can’t afford these numbers to drop any more since that, after all, was the rationale for the adoption of the safeguard in the first place. Adult education of all sorts has a benefit for people’s lives.“
Source: NIACE Press Release: "Latest figures show further fall in 'safeguarded' adult learners" - [PDF] Released On 11/04/2008
_______________________________
Commission of Inquiry calls for evidence on lifelong learning, citizenship and belonging
One of the most vivid and widespread public debates of recent times has been around citizenship and what it means to belong in modern Britain. Because of the links between adult learning, social justice and active citizenship, the Inquiry into the Future for Lifelong Learning - sponsored by NIACE - is putting out a public call for evidence on lifelong learning, citizenship and belonging. Interested individuals and organisations are invited to submit written evidence to the Inquiry by 22nd May 2008.
Commissioner of the Inquiry, Professor John Field, from the University of Stirling, said:
“There is a long and proud history of adult learning to promote active citizenship and social justice. This tradition underlies the radical and innovative work that was undertaken in areas such as women's education, community education and workers' education. Yet there have been changes in people's engagement with political processes, as well as major shifts in membership of voluntary organisations of all kinds, and there are important questions about people's sense of belonging to the wider community.”
He continued:
“Some writers, like Robert Putnam, have warned of an impending collapse of community. Others take a more optimistic view, arguing that newer generations are adopting new ways of getting engaged and new ways of forging bonds with other people. But all are agreed that there have been changes in the meaning and nature of active citizenship, and there is widespread public debate over what it means to belong in modern Britain. Changes in the organisation and focus of adult learning mirror these wider changes in social connections and civic engagement.”
Tom Schuller, Director of the Inquiry, said:
"This theme of citizenship and belonging is one of ten which form the core of the Inquiry's work. We aim to get a real sense of the challenges of democratic life in the 21st Century, and how lifelong learning can contribute to meeting them."
In particular, the Inquiry invites submissions that address the following questions:
| What does the evidence tell us about the relationship between lifelong learning and citizenship and belonging? |
| Where are the gaps in evidence in relation to this theme? |
| What key messages should the Inquiry extract? |
| What are the main features of civic engagement in modern Britain, and how do these relate to developments in lifelong learning? |
| Should lifelong learning promote a sense of belonging among all members of our society, and if so how should we do it? |
| What is the continuing relevance of the social purpose tradition in lifelong learning? |
Read the full call for evidence here
More on the Commission of Inquiry into the Future for Lifelong Learning
Source: NIACE Press Release: "Commission of Inquiry calls for evidence on lifelong learning, citizenship and belonging" - [PDF] Released On 18/04/2008
_______________________________
Online survey of the impact of recent ESOL policy changes
NIACE is investigating the effect that recent changes to English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) funding arrangements have had on providers and their ESOL offer. The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) has commissioned our work, and we expect to publish a report on the research findings later in the summer term.
We want to collect evidence about the impact of the changes from colleagues who are responsible for ESOL provision in their organisations, and would like to invite you to participate in our on-line survey by following the link below.
This is an opportunity to say how the changes have affected your provision so far and contribute to a report that will help to inform future policy development. The findings from the survey are likely to be particularly important in light of the current DIUS consultation, Focusing English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) on Community Cohesion, and its proposed focus on planning for priority groups.
The survey is open until Friday, 25 April 2008. We look forward to hearing from you.
| Begin Survey here |
Anita Hallam anita.hallam@niace.org.uk
Emily Bowman emily.bowman@niace.org.uk
_______________________________
Speaking and Listening in Skills for Life
The merger of the Basic Skills Agency with NIACE and our joint emphasis on the importance of speaking and listening skills in the context of English first language speakers and Skills for Life teaching and learning has led to our first piece of collaborative work with TRIBAL as the Alliance.
The Alliance believes that effective communication skills need to be considered as fundamental enabling skills. The role of speaking and listening is especially critical as a tool for supporting thinking, learning and engaging with the world at large.
Speaking and listening skills are crucial to any individual’s:
| Cognitive development |
| Educational achievement |
| Personal development |
| Participation and contribution to society |
| Considerable demands are placed on the knowledge, skills, expertise and qualities of those seeking to support and develop learners’ speaking and listening skills. |
The Alliance has examined key policy drivers, research studies and reports and attempted to identify current practice through desk research and practitioner survey. The results, together with our recommendations for supporting teaching and learning of speaking and listening skills in Skills for Life are outlined in the report ‘Speaking and Listening in Skills for Life: policy, practice and research’. This work is still in progress but a draft version of this document can be downloaded here - [PDF].
___________________________________
Government ‘very positive’ about Commission for Disabled Staff Report
Following the publication of the final report of the NIACE-led Commission for Disabled Staff in Lifelong Learning, Bill Rammell the Minister for Lifelong Learning, Further & Higher Education, has responded positively. In a letter to the Director of NIACE - [PDF], Alan Tuckett, Mr Rammell highlighted the report’s recommendations on the visibility of ‘Access to Work’ programmes and reassured the field about the improvements needed. He also said,
“I would also like to take this opportunity to tell you that my department will be providing a response to the Commission’s report. I can assure you that the response will be very positive and show that we intend to demonstrate the leadership needed to change the sector from compliance to culture change.”
The Director of NIACE, Alan Tuckett, said:
“The Chair of the Commission, Leisha Fullick, and myself are delighted by the Minister’s response to look forward to the Department’s response to the report.”
The report detailed how disabled staff in lifelong learning face widespread discrimination. Lifelong Learning UK have already announced that they are looking forward to leading on the implementation of the report.
Related Links:
| Letter from Bill Rammell -[PDF] |
| Purchase the Full Report online here (Priced £18.95) |
| Download Summary Report for free here |
| Find our more about the Commission for Disabled Staff in Lifelong Learning here |
_______________________________
Princess Royal to be patron of NIACE
HRH Princess Royal has agreed to be Royal Patron of the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education.
Alan Tuckett, Director of NIACE, said:
“We are delighted to announce that HRH Princess Royal has agreed to be Royal Patron of the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education for three years. The Princess Royal has been a distinguished ambassador for adult basic skills in the UK since International Literacy Year in 1990, through her patronage of the Basic Skills Agency which merged with NIACE in July 2007.”
He continued:
“NIACE is pleased that The Princess Royal’s patronage offers continuity of support and encouragement for adults with literacy, language and numeracy needs, as well as for the Institute’s wider work.”
Source: NIACE Press Release: "Princess Royal to be patron of NIACE" - [PDF] Released On 01/03/2008
_______________________________
NIACE launches search for lost learners
Over the past two years there has been a fall of nearly one and a half million adult learners on publicly funded courses. On 1st April 2008, NIACE launched a nationwide search to find out what has happened to those adults.
NIACE is exploring how the changes in publicly funded adult learning have impacted on individual learners and wants to hear about what people have done without publicly supported classes. In particular NIACE is interested in finding out from learners, tutors and providers:
| How have you been affected by the fall in the number and range of courses available to adults? |
| What courses have disappeared? |
| Did you simply give up learning? |
| Have you started a course outside of college or adult education centre? |
| Are you learning in a more informal way, perhaps online or do you study with a group of friends? |
Alan Tuckett, Director of NIACE, said:
“These are challenging times for adult learners. Because of our ageing population we need more – not fewer – adults of all ages learning. Learning increases confidence, reduces isolation and has positive effects on your mental health, particularly as you get older. This is why we want to hear about how adults are learning now – if not on publicly-funded courses.”
Anyone interested in sharing their experiences should contact NIACE at: lostcourses@niace.org.uk or write to: Lost Classes, NIACE, Renaissance House, 20 Princess Road West, Leicester LE1 6TP.
Source: NIACE Press Release: "NIACE launches search for lost learners" - [PDF] Released On 01/03/2008
_______________________________
Influencing Public Policy / Advocacy
Conferences & Training Courses Section:
Book Shop:
Campaigns & Promotions
Projects / Research
Information Services
Miscellaneous
|
________________________________
| Archives |