- Conference
- 2004 National Delegate Conference
- Date
- 2 March 2004
- Decision
- Carried
Conference believes that the Labour government has identified a huge deficit in the skills base of the country and has made positive efforts towards raising the skills levels of the workforce. The quantity and quality of skilled labour are important determinants of economic performance. Increasing the skill and qualification levels of the population increases the earning potential of individuals and the range of jobs they can do. In turn, an increasingly skilled, flexible workforce raises the productive potential of the economy as firms produce a more diverse and better range of products and services. We welcome the investment made in further education so far but Conference believes that leaving the distribution and strategy to redress this imbalance to the learning and skills councils does not meet the education and training needs of individuals, communities and employers.
Conference believes that not enough discussion takes place between local further education colleges and local learning and skills councils to identify the needs and aspirations of the local communities. Further education colleges are at the heart of the communities they serve and are best placed to identify the needs of local employers and citizens.
Conference also believes that without legislation to give workers the statutory right to paid time off for training, many low skilled workers will be denied training.
The introduction of three-year development plans and three-year funding agreements have slightly eased the pressures on further education institutions. However, the government’s Success for All white paper is a major programme of reform for the post-sixteen education and training sector and theme one, meeting needs, improving choice, requires colleges to take account of the needs of their local community and employers. It is unrealistic to expect that colleges can respond effectively to this theme without adequate funding.
The needs of employers have changed dramatically over the last ten years and in many parts of the north west the industrial base has changed beyond recognition. In order to upskill the workforce to meet these challenges working people must be able to update or renew their qualifications/skills and this is not possible if they cannot afford to attend college due to the increased cost of learning programmes.
Conference therefore calls on the Labour government to:
1)instruct the learning and skills council to increase funding for work-based learning;
2)clarify and improve the current vague position on level 2 qualifications in order that learners with outdated skills at level 2 can retrain for new skills at level 2 free of charge;
3)enact legislation to give all workers paid time off to achieve a level 2 qualification;
4)ensure that the learning and skills councils consult more closely with further education colleges to determine the needs of the community and employers and publish the results of this consultation in the local press.
Without the changes detailed above, it will not be possible for the government to meet its own targets on raising the skills levels of the UK to comparable levels with similar countries in the European Union.