13/02/2009 - Official figures show collapse in Adult Education

New official figures released today by the Conservatives show that the number of people studying on an adult education course has fallen by a quarter in the last four years. The Government has deliberately cut funding for adult education courses that don’t produce paper qualifications, but hundreds of thousands of adults are unable to re-skill and up-skill as a result.

Across the UK, 1.3 million Learning and Skills Council (LSC) funded places on adult education courses have disappeared since 2003/4 – a reduction of a quarter – and the decline has been felt in every region.

In the North East, there has been a reduction of 79,900 places.

Conservative candidate for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, Paul Bristow said:

“The Government failed to prepare Britain for the tough times whilst the economy was growing. Ministers’ obsession with paper-based qualifications has led to a reduction in the number of adults re-skilling and up-skilling, which has contributed to the skills shortage we now face.

“A better-skilled workforce is absolutely fundamental for Teesside if our area is fulfil it's potential and to emerge from the recession in a competitive state.

“I am delighted the Conservatives have committed to refocusing £100 million from the Train to Gain budget on Adult and Community Learning and a further £100 million on young people not in employment, education or training. That will benefit people across Teesside in and make amends for Labour’s cuts, which have hit those most in need the hardest.”