More than one in five adults said they were currently involved in education
Demand for adult education courses is on the increase, especially among the most disadvantaged groups, a new report has shown.
The latest annual Adult Learners’ Week survey indicates that economic uncertainty appears to have had a huge impact on the number of adults who are in learning or who are thinking about learning in the future.
One of the most striking figures to come out of this year’s survey is a 25% increase in the number of people from lower social classes who reported being involved in learning during the past three years. In the 20 years since the survey began, those classed as DEs have never reported more than a rise of one percentage point, and have always reported within the 24-26 per cent range. This year the figure was up six percentage points to 30%.
Nevertheless, DEs were still much less likely to take up education than those in the highest social classes, with more than half of ABs (56%) and C1s (51%) reporting that they were current or recent learners.
The UK-wide survey by the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (Niace), questioned nearly 5,000 people. More than one in five adults (21%) said they were currently involved in education. This compares with a figure of 18% in 2009, the lowest levels seen for a decade. Niace pointed out that although the current figure was lower than the highs seen between 1996 and 2003, it was a welcome reversal of recent reductions.
Overall this year’s survey showed the proportion of current and recent learners was at the highest level for 10 years, having risen four percentage points, from 39% in 2009 to 43% in 2010.
Called “A Change for the Better”, the report also stated that three in five (60%) full-time workers, 58% of part-time workers and 67% of people seeking work planned to take up learning, showing rises on last year’s figures of 13, nine and 17 percentage points respectively.
The overall numbers planning to study jumped to almost half (47%) in 2010, the highest yet recorded in the annual surveys. This is mirrored by a drop from 47% in 2009 to 34% in 2010 in those who said they were very unlikely to take up learning in the next three years.
Alan Tuckett, chief executive of Niace, said: “This survey shows something of a sea-change in adults’ engagement in learning. There has been a major shift, not only in the proportion of adults who are engaged in learning but also in adults’ expectations of taking part in the near future.
“Perhaps the most striking result in the survey is the first statistically significant improvement in participation by adults from social class DE - the poorest cohort, comprising unemployed people, semi- and unskilled adults and retired people.
“This year’s increases can only be just a beginning. If those who benefit least from their initial education are to get a fair share of the opportunities that training and wider learning can bring, this level of increase will need to be emulated in 2011.
“Yet just to maintain these gains will be challenging, when public finances are under so much pressure. Things may be moving in the right direction, but they have some way to go.”
Niace, a non-government organisation for lifelong learning in England, exists to encourage more and different adults to engage in better quality learning of all kinds. It campaigns for, and celebrates the achievements of, all adult learners. For more information go to www.niace.org.uk.
By Lorraine Connolly, Community Newswire
