This is an old page so some of the links may no longer work!

Latest News: September 2005

______________________________

Gearing Further Education to the needs of industry

The future focus of further education – in colleges and elsewhere - is being geared towards the requirements of industry, the economy and employers. A conference examining the potential of this developing relationship will be held in Leamington Spa on Tuesday 11th October 2005.

The FE and the Economic Mission Conference, organised by NIACE, will receive a keynote address from Bill Rammell MP, Minister of State for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education, who will be setting out the Government’s position. Maria Hughes from the Learning and Skills Development Agency (LSDA) will discuss how colleges can realign to meet employment needs.

Colin Flint, Director of Further Education at NIACE, said:

“These are challenging times for colleges. The priorities of the Government for its third term are clear, and the re-definition of the role of further education in relation to the economy, industry and employers is central to their future role. There are significant opportunities and equally significant threats. The Learning and Skills Council’s Agenda for Change is going to change the operational environment.”

He continued:

“This conference will focus on existing good practice and on the guidelines for success in workplace and work-based learning. These areas are those where growth can come but where current delivery is thought to be in need of improvement. Hence this conference, located in a purpose-built college facility in which work with industry is demonstrably successful. We are delighted that we have Maria Hughes, lead officer for work-related learning at LSDA, as a keynote speaker, contributions from Finbar Lillis, of Credit Works and three colleges which are leading the field in their employer directed work will provide a unique insight.”

Top of page

_____________________

NIACE Continues on the Political Trail

NIACE Fringe Receptions

Top of page

______________________________

What are the major challenges facing adult learners?

Around 100 people from across the spectrum of adult learning came together in London on Tuesday 21 September to take part in a discussion on What are the major challenges facing adult learners?

The discussion was part of NIACE's Sign Up Now Campaign and took place at the Guardian Newsroom Lecture Theatre. The Chair was Peter Kingston, FE Editor of The Guardian who guided the panel and audience around the many aspects concerning adult learning at this crucial time.

The discussion panel comprised:

A transcript of the discussion will appear here in the next few days.

Top of page

______________________________

Committee of Enquiry - an update

The Report of the Committee of Enquiry into adult learning in colleges, established and sponsored by NIACE, will be published in early October. It recommends:

The report will be presented to the Minister for Further and Higher education, Bill Rammell, at a meeting on October 17th, and widely disseminated subsequently.

Top of page

______________________________

Fairer Funding Campaign

With hundreds of thousands of students and adults returning to learning, the start of the academic year in September can be an exciting time. For far too many however, there’s disappointment as thousands of learners find that provision is being cut, course fees increased, and support reduced.

NIACE has heard from scores of learners and providers who have been affected by the changes to the way in which adult learning is being funded. It’s estimated that 200,000 adult learning places have been lost this year. We believe the situation will become far, far worse as between 1 million and 1.5 million places may be lost over the next three years.

Voluntary organisations as well as colleges are feeling the squeeze, which in some cases has resulted in redundancies amongst staff.

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.

What can you do?
NIACE is working with other organisations at a national level, but there’s much you can do locally. You can:

What next?
The Fairer Funding for Adult Learning campaign pack gives more information on the campaign and suggests ways you can get involved, nationally and in your own local area.

You can download the campaign briefing pack either as a PDF or as a Word document using the links below.

Alternatively, to order a hard copy of the campaign pack from us free of charge, please complete this online order form.

This campaign briefing sets out practical steps that those committed to adult learning – individuals as well as organisations - can take to protect and promote adult learning. Emphasis has been placed on highlighting the benefits of adult learning to local communities and the consequent impact of funding decisions on course closures and increases in course fees.

Join our survey
If your organisation or college is being hit by the cuts, please tell us. You can download a questionnaire below as either a word document or as a PDF and fax it back to us, or complete our online questionnaire.

Top of page

______________________________

The Dyslexia Myth?

In “The Dyslexia Myth” (Dispatches, Channel 4, Thursday 08/09/05), an interesting discussion about reading difficulties and reading interventions made an uncomfortable bedfellow with an attempt to disprove the existence of dyslexia and to blame the focussing of resources on dyslexic children for the “failure” of the National Literacy Strategy.

Since his article appeared in the Times Educational Supplement, previewing the programme, Professor Julian Elliot’s controversial ideas have been hotly debated in the dyslexia community. They have caused offence to many people with dyslexia, and to those who work with and support them. NIACE is concerned because Professor Elliot dismisses the very existence of dyslexia. He attacks the allocation of resources to dyslexic children and by implication to adult learners with dyslexia. He appears to ignore the personal experiences of dyslexic people.

To deal with dyslexia as only a reading difficulty is missing the point. Dyslexia is a learning difference that affects many aspects of literacy. It also affects functions such as working memory, sense of time and direction. For many adults with dyslexia these latter issues have a greater impact on day-to-day life than reading problems. Dyslexic adults often report positive aspects of this learning difference too, such as an aptitude for particular styles of thinking.

There is a sizeable body of evidence, including from post-mortem studies, that dyslexic brains are physically different from non-dyslexic brains, and evidence too of a genetic basis for dyslexia.

“The Dyslexia Myth” argued that dyslexic readers are no different from “garden variety” poor readers because techniques that help dyslexic readers help others too. But again, this argument ignores the point that dyslexia is not just about reading difficulty.

Professor Elliot is right that an industry exists to develop and market interventions and support for dyslexic adults and children. He is right that some of the “miracle cures” are not all that they claim, but again, this does not disprove the existence of dyslexia.

Our understanding of dyslexia may be incomplete but we cannot decide that something doesn’t exist, just because we don’t understand it yet. It is a useful term, both for dyslexic people and for those working with them. The process of diagnosis, rather than being “a waste of public money” enables dyslexic adults to understand their strengths and weaknesses, and enables support and teaching to be focussed appropriately.

In recent years people with dyslexia have gained legal protection under the Disability Discrimination Act and increasing numbers of adults have been diagnosed with dyslexia and supported. It seemed that the climate had changed and that the voices of dyslexic people were being heard. Let’s not allow “The Dyslexia Myth” to divert us from working to ensure that all learners receive the teaching, support and resources that will enable them to succeed and fulfil their potential.

What next?
NIACE would be interested to hear your views on “The Dyslexia Myth” and the issues raised in it. Please send us your comments using the form below (form removed).

Top of page

______________________________

Nomination Forms for ALW Awards 2006

Since 1992, NIACE has co-ordinated Adult Learners’ Week, which celebrates adults’ achievements and showcases the creativity, imagination and energy adults bring to their learning. To date nearly 1,200 awards have been given to groups, projects and individual learners, and each represents a personal journey of discovery, enjoyment and, all too often, perseverance.

Nomination are now open for the 2006 Awards in the following categories:

The Closing date is Friday 13th January 2006

Download Nomination Forms here

Top of page

______________________________

________________________________

Top of page