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The search is on for the country's oldest leaner
The idea that you are never too old to learn will be confirmed through a major nationwide search - by the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) - to find England’s Oldest Learner. Part of NIACE’s September Sign Up Now Campaign the search will highlight the importance of adults learning throughout life and how many people have improved their health, social lives and outlook, whatever their age or stage.
Older learners include Raymond Elgood, aged 84, from Leicester, who attended computer lessons at Age Concern and has achieved three Open College Network qualifications in ICT. He said:
“I was devastated when my wife sadly passed away. This studying helped to fill a great hole in my life and helped me to return to near normality. As I started my studies I felt as if I had been in a room with shuttered windows which were being opened one by one revealing another world outside. I wish with all my heart that I had started my adult studies much sooner.”
Walter Goddard, aged 95, from Surrey, has taken courses in Art, Cooking and Pottery. He said:
“The thought of these sessions motivates me to get up in the morning. Many people complain of being bored and lonely with nothing to do when there is so much enjoyment to be had in the local area if they took the chance to give it a try.”
Jim Soulsby, Development Officer for NIACE’s Older and Bolder Team, said:
“Older people are proving over and over again that it is never too late to learn and that in so doing everyone benefits. Research shows there are health benefits in engaging in later life learning. There are examples of older people using their learning as a stepping stone into other aspects of economic or community life.”
He continued, “Highlighting role models has always been the best way of encouraging others to get involved. NIACE is confident that – up and down the country – there are adult learners who are showing that age is no barrier to learning and who will be an inspiration to others.”
You can nominate yourself or someone you know, either online or by phoning Claire Woodward on 0116 204 4200.
 | Source: NIACE Press Release: "The search is on for the country's oldest leaner (PDF file) Released On 26/07/2005 |
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Adult Learning in Parliament
Just before Parliament adjourned for the summer recess, there was time for a
short debate on July 20 on how funding cuts are affecting colleges. Andrew
Selous MP (Conservative, South-West Bedfordshire) used the case of his local
college in Dunstable to criticise Government policy.
The debate transcript can be read in full here (scroll down to the heading
Dunstable College).
(www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm050720/debtext/50720-36.htm)
In his reply, the Minister, Parliamentary Undersecretary for Adult Skills, Phil Hope MP drew upon a NIACE briefing to defend the Government’s position. He said:
“I should like to refer to a briefing from the National Institute for Adult and continuing Education. The briefing stated:
NIACE is not against higher fees for those who can afford them. We believe that a high-fee, high-volume adult learning market, with generous concessions for the poor as of right, will result in more and different opportunities for adult learners than lower volumes in a low-fee economy. We believe that colleges which, in the past, have waived fees because there was little incentive to change, should begin a migration towards the sort of levels found in many local authority adult education services.”
That shows that there is support for the transition outside the Government.”
NIACE is pleased that politicians read our briefings and delighted that they find them worth citing. Perhaps because he was pressed for time, the Minister omitted to read the remainder of the paragraph which said:
‘We recognise however that this cannot happen overnight without destabilising the system; that even if colleges were to collect all the fees they could under existing assumptions there would still be a shortfall of around £30 million. Also we acknowledge that colleges in less affluent neighbourhoods are unlikely ever to be able to generate fee income at the levels that may be realised in more affluent communities.’
Our analysis (prepared for an earlier debate in June) can be read in full here (PDF).
NIACE is concerned about the effect on adult students of this years’ cut of £55 million to adult learning budgets in England – and even more so about prospects for the period beyond.
We hope to work with the Government and opposition parties to secure an extensive and well-informed public debate in the coming year about how best public and private funding can be used to achieve a high volume, wide range of learning opportunities for adults. Our Campaign for Fairer Funding is a step in that direction.
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Guide to setting up a wireless network
This guide, written by DirectSupport, was commissioned by the Department for Education and Skills in partnership with NIACE and is a result of the Wireless Outreach Network (WON) initiative.
The guide is aimed at learning practitioners and their support staff in Adult and Community Learning who are considering the installation of a new wireless network or want to understand the implications in extending an existing network by using wireless components.
It offers information to tutors and community development practitioners who may work in outreach venues, in learning access centres, or in small organisations."
Click here to Download the "Guide to setting up a wireless network" (PDF file)
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Wireless Outreach Networks (WON) Initiative
The results of the 4th project monitoring survey held in May 2005 are now available to download from the WON project webpage.
The survey reveals how the project has reached out to groups of socially disadvantaged learners in community settings and how learners have benefited from using the wireless laptop equipment.
Click here to Download the WON monitoring survey (PDF file)
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Fairer Funding for Adult Learning
You are probably aware that the overall 2005-06 budget for learners over the age of 18 from the Learning and Skills Council is 3% down on the previous year – a cut of £55 million. The impact of this change is not falling evenly across the country: in some places the effect has not been great but, in many others, the reductions are very substantial with courses being cut, fees increased and staff under threat of redundancy. As advocates of adult learning, we believe that these reductions are short-sighted for the country and for local communities as well as for individual learners. For example:
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in Essex, the local authority faces a cut of 14%; |
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City College Norwich will have more than half a million pounds less to support adult classes; |
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funding for Milton Keynes Council has been reduced by more than 18%; and |
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Darlington College has lost more than £600,000 for adult work. |
What’s of even greater concern is that the situation will be far, far worse in 2006-07.
We believe that the country needs to engage more adults in learning for its economic health and for reasons of social justice. We believe that all adults should be able to expect some level of public support to access a wide range of learning opportunities that help them find their own way to a better life.
Through the Fairer Funding for Adult Learning Campaign, we are seeking to get a fairer deal for adult learners in England but, to do so, we need your help.
More information on the Fairer Funding for Adult Learning Campaign.
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Making Poverty History
On Saturday 2 July thousands of people gathered in Edinburgh to demand an end to poverty in Africa. Earlier this year NIACE staff set up an Against Poverty action group in response to the Make Poverty History campaign. Some of its members marched in Edinburgh. Visit the link below to read a few of their stories.
Stories from Making Poverty History gathering.
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