Education and skills delivering the results: DfES strategy to 2006
Education and skills – delivering the results: DfES strategy to 2006
The newly formed Department for Education and Skills has set out its strategic aims and targets for the next five years. In a foreword to the detailed statements the Secretary of State notes:
There is now wide acceptance that to build an economy that will continue our success in the global market place we will need an even better educated and more highly skilled workforce. Equally importantly, to build a fair and inclusive society everyone must have the opportunity to realise their full potential. The work of the new Department for Education and Skills is central to achieving both of those aims.
The strategy paper sets out the key objectives of the DfES and in relation to each of these a number of targets. The following extracts focus upon objectives 2 and 3 and note the targets relating to young people and adults.
Objective 2: enable all young people to develop and to equip themselves with the skills, knowledge and personal qualities needed for life and work
In relation to 14-19 age group the document notes:
There needs to be greater choice at 14, including high-quality vocational and academic opportunities. The new Connexions Service will support young people to make individual choices and help to increase their participation in learning and training beyond 16. The status of vocational options must be raised and we need to open a debate about the best way to develop a coherent 14-19 phase, which offers all young people real choice and opportunity.
The targets are:
Increase by 3 percentage points the numbers of 19-year-olds achieving a qualification equivalent to NVQ level 2, compared to 2002, by 2004.
Increase the proportion of 19-year-olds achieving a level 3 qualification from 51 per cent in 2000 to 55 per cent in 2004.
Implement the Connexions Service across the country in 2002-2003.
Ensure that there is an apprenticeship place for everyone who wants one and meets the required standard.
Ensure that every child leaving care is guaranteed access to education,training or a job.
Objective 3: encourage and enable adults to learn, improve their skills and enrich their lives
In relation to HE the document notes:
The Department is committed to working towards wider participation in higher education, while continuing to improve standards. It will look to ensure that the country has higher education institutions that can compete with the best in the world in teaching, research and technology transfer and that they link closely with business to generate jobs and wealth.
The relevant targets are:
Increase participation towards 50 per cent of those aged 18-30 by the end of the decade, while maintaining standards.
Make significant, year-on-year progress towards fair access, as measured by the Funding Council benchmarks.
Bear down on rates of non-completion.
Strengthen research and teaching excellence.
In relation to adult learners the strategy states:
The UK has a legacy of 7 million adults lacking the literacy and numeracy skills that the economy requires. The Department will spearhead a campaign to ensure 750,000 adults improve their basic literacy and numeracy skills, over the next three years. In the workforce, many more people need to be involved in learning, because skills are central to economic success. We will be announcing a detailed workforce development strategy, outlining the roles and responsibilities of Government, business and individuals in achieving this.
The DfES targets are:
Reduce the number of adults who have literacy or numeracy problems by 750,000, by 2004.
Increase the percentage of adults attaining a Level 3 qualification from 47 per cent to 52 per cent in 2004.
Establish half of all colleges to be Centres of Vocational Excellence by 2003/2004.
Open two technology institutes in every region to meet the rising demand for high-level technical skills.
Produce a workforce development strategy that increases the training offered by employers and undertaken by employees.
Expand Individual Learning Accounts and set up a network of 6,000 IT learning centres by the end of 2002.
It is interesting to note that since the publication of this strategy document the DfES have announced the suspension of Individual Learning Accounts. According to the Secretary of State growing evidence that some companies have been abusing the scheme has caused the Government to re-think how best to target public funds in this area.
For more details on this announcement and the strategy document visit www.dfes.gov.uk
