Recommendation 4

The Department must set out an ambitious, long-term strategy for adult skills and lifelong learning. This must be a comprehensive and holistic vision for ASALL in its entirety—piecemeal adjustments and one-off initiatives will not deliver the reform needed. These reforms must be underpinned by a shift to more flexible, modular learning so that adults can ‘hop on and hop off’ learning pathways. And we will need much better careers advice to help adults find the best learning opportunities for them. We identify four key pillars to this strategy: i. First, the Department must ensure there is a community learning centre in every town to ensure the first rung of the ladder is there for adults furthest from qualifications and employment. ii. Second, the Department must kickstart participation by introducing Individual Learning Accounts, so that every adult has choice and agency over their learning. iii. Third, the Government must restore part-time higher education by instating fee grants for part-time learners from the most disadvantaged backgrounds who study courses that meet the skills needs of the nation, and extend maintenance support to disadvantaged learners. 48 A plan for an adult skills and lifelong learning revolution iv. Fourth, the Government must tackle the decline in employer-led training through the introduction of a skills tax credit for employers who invest in training for their workforce.