BIS evaluates Skills for Life impact Friday, November 6, 2009 - 16:36

NIACE welcomes BIS' report - The Evaluation of the Impact of Skills for Life Learning - that says adults can significantly benefit from attending Skills for Life courses.

It confirms our belief that improving literacy, language and numeracy can contribute to better life opportunities, better physical and mental well being and better learning within families. It can also help people to manage their own lives, shape their own futures and contribute to their communities.

The Evaluation of the Impact of Skills for Life Learning - on the Longitudinal Survey of Adult Learners on College-Based Literacy and Numeracy courses from the National Institute of Economic and Social Research - says:

"Learners were able to lead a fuller life, e.g. to travel unaccompanied, to budget and manage their own finances, to go shopping. Not only did the initiative appear to have reduced their dependency, but it released others from providing support (including social services). Moreover, some took on greater responsibilities for others (e.g. helping elderly neighbours)."

The Government needs to recognise the impact of adult learning, particularly for those with the lowest level of skills. BIS' report notes how Skills for Life learners have dramatically changed their attitude from thinking negatively about formal learning to embracing the value of education and training, with a large majority going on to take new courses.

We support the report's recommendation that careers guidance should be offered prior, during and after the Skills for Life courses, to improve employment outcomes. Adults with low basic skills often face barriers to employment and the Adult Advancement and Careers Service should recognise the power of adult learning in improving and developing people's employability skills.

Although the report does not identify a significant impact on either employment or earnings, the Skills for Life strategy was established to improve aspects of employability such as improved self-esteem and qualifications. NIACE acknowledges that, for those with very low basic skills, making a significant difference to employment chances may take longer.

Finally, the report suggests there is still work to be done in order to reach disadvantaged groups, including:

• older people (Skills for Life participation declines with age)
• parents with children under school age and lone parents
•  people with a long-term illness or disability
• people without qualifications
• those with the very lowest levels of literacy competence
• employed people

The immediate benefits of Skills for Life courses are not always obvious, adults rarely start learning in order to improve their income. However, as their confidence and life-skills improve, they often feel more able to go for jobs that will bring more benefits.

NIACE also notes that some adults featured in the report had not continued their learning, due to lack of local provision or due to the cost of other types of courses. We believe the Government should seek to re-balance the £55 billion spent by Government, businesses and individuals to provide learning for all, for work and leisure.

As Learning Through Life states, the current system is heavily front-loaded, favouring the young and already advantaged. This leaves too many people under-equipped to deal with the accelerating health, social, technological and economic changes facing all adults as we go through the different stages of our lives.