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ADULT L EARNING
“From complete beginner to late returner, education providers are ready and waiting”
a reboot of their future working lives, future-proofing themselves with skills that give them the edge in an era likely to be dominated by machine learning. Others, who have reached their 50s and 60s, are taking stock of their lives and contemplating a complete change in direction. There’s also a small but growing number of younger students who are considering studying part-time instead of going away to college, perhaps to earn money or because of learning disabilities. At the other end of the age spectrum, there are the third age learners who have the motivation, time and money to make a real commitment to exploring new disciplines. With providers making it easier than ever before to start learning, the most difficult decision may be which course to opt for. Learners can opt to master a language, try their hand at ballroom dancing or making jewellery, or take a course in coaching, creativity or international development. From complete beginner to late returner, education providers in our area are ready and waiting to help adult learners take the next step in a collaborative atmosphere, with tutors and students working and ultimately learning together.
But with limited government support and the longest working weeks in Europe, it’s not hard to see why going back to school in your free time – however valuable – might have limited appeal. The irony is that people who stand to benefit most from additional training and education – those with fewer skills and qualifications – are the ones least likely to access it. For some, lack of confidence can be a barrier. For others, it’s a shortage of time. Some experts are calling for a return to the can-do approach of 100 years ago, when the 1919 Report on Adult Education was published. Arguing that adult education wasn’t a luxury but a national essential, it called for a drive to recruit older students – and substantial funding to pay for their education, too. In spite of all the obstacles in their way, adult learning institutions in our area are making strenuous efforts to ensure that courses are inclusive and accessible – and that those who would struggle to pay for their courses don’t miss out. So what sort of people are signing up for courses? They’re a varied lot with an equally wide range of motivations, interests, goals and ages. Some are contemplating
AUTUMN/WINTER 2019
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