Review of adult learning at end of twentieth century
Review of adult learning at end of twentieth century
Keywords: Lifelong learning, United Kingdom
A comprehensive review of adult learning in England has been published by the Institute of Employment Studies and NIACE, the adult learning organisation. The report is the result of a survey conducted as part of the groundwork for an ongoing OECD review of adult learning in a range of countries. Among the reports findings are the facts that:
There were over half a million students in higher education aged over 25 in 1997.
Employers spend between £15 billion and £20 billion on training.
A total of 90 per cent of adults believe learning is important; two-thirds say they would like to be engaged in learning activity do so but only half expect to in the near future.
One in five adults have low levels of literacy, almost half have low levels of numeracy.
Middle-aged men with a degree earn 60 per cent more than average earnings;men with no qualifications earn 40 per cent less.
In addition to a range of facts and figures the report sets out the current policy framework on adult learning prior to the changes in the current Learning and Skills bill. Introducing the report, co-author Jim Hillage says:
We hope the review will act as a comprehensive source of information on the state of adult learning at the end of the twentieth century. In that way it will form a benchmark from which the impact of the new reforms can be measured.
Adult Learning in England: A Review, Institute of Employment Studies Report No 369 is available by accessing Web site www.employment-studies.co.uk
