Organisations
It is change time again at the DfES...
The 73 formally recognised NTOs are to go, under a new scheme announced by Education and Skills Secretary Estelle Morris. The Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) will be set up by employers to identify skills shortages and deliver action plans to tackle them across sectors.
Not every employment sector is likely to have a Skills Council, and some will cover more than one sector. Sectors that do not have a Council will be served by the new Sector Skills Development Agency that will oversee the functions of all Councils. Skills Councils must have the backing of key sector employers, and will work in partnership with other organisations to develop national occupational standards, such as Modern Apprenticeships.
The policy statement, ‘Meeting the sector skills and productivity challenge’ is available on www.dfes.gov.uk
The flagship Individual Learning Accounts (ILAs) programme was suspended the in the light of evidence that "some ILAs have been exploited by companies providing poor value for money".
The separate ILA programmes operating in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are unaffected by this change in policy.
Commentators have made the following points:
- Although laudable in it’s aims, the scheme was always open to abuse,
- When that abuse was uncovered, (as there was no quality regime in place) the programme had to be halted, but,
- That learners and high quality providers will suffer as a result.
In their response to the news, NIACE gave the example of the National Extension College, who estimate that, "apart from the loss of a funding stream, it will cost £50,000 to replace its promotional materials which refer to ILAs."
Making the announcement, Estelle Morris said, "Our commitment to enabling access to lifelong learning is cast-iron."
The DfES strategy to 2006 has been released, setting out the government’s priorities in education. The short document sets out three objectives, one of which is to "encourage and enable adults to learn, improve their skills and enrich their lives."
The targets given are based on existing spending plans which will change following the outcomes of the next Comprehensive Spending Review in 2002.
For a copy see, www.dfes.gov.uk/delivering-results/index.shtml or call DfES Publications on, 0845 60 222 60, with ref: ESDR2006.
Janice Shiner has been appointed as the new Director General for Lifelong Learning at the Department. Ms Shiner, 50, currently Principal of Leicester College of Further Education, will lead the Department’s Lifelong Learning Directorate responsible for devising and implementing policy on further and higher education and skills.
Tony Blair has congratulated NEC on opening its new premises in Cambridge. In a letter to Michael Young, now Lord Young of Dartington, Tony Blair said:
"Thanks to your groundbreaking work with the NEC and the Open University, millions of adults have had access to the learning skills and confidence which have changed their lives."
A carved stone circle was completed to mark the contribution to education of Michael Young, now Lord Young of Dartington, and celebrations concluded with a firework display, balloon race.
The British Council won the Online Product of the Year award at this year’s WOLCE & e-learning awards, for its Online English Course. This was developed to promote wider and effective use of English overseas one of the Council’s six aims.
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