New grant piloted for adult learners

Tuesday, 12 August 2003 12:00 AM

Up to 12,000 young adults could benefit from a new government funding scheme to help people get back into full-time education.

The Adult Learning Grant will be piloted in ten areas across England from this September, and aims to help meet the costs of returning to college for young people over the age of 19.

Participants could receive up to £30 a week if they are on low incomes and are studying for GCSEs or A-Levels - and their equivalents - for the first time.

Launching the pilot schemes, Ivan Lewis, Minister for Skills and Vocational Education said: "The new Adult Learning Grant is a major step in helping those who might not have succeeded in their initial education but are serious about wanting to get the qualifications they need for their future careers.

If the scheme, which is part of the Government's Skills Strategy to maximise the abilities of the UK's workforce, is shown to work it will be rolled out nationally and could involve up to 60,000 learners.

The scheme has been welcomed by the local learning and skills councils that will help pilot it, with national LSC chair Bryan Sanderson noting: "This will give adults the flying start they need to back into education."

However, critics have pointed out that although the new scheme will benefit full-time learners, most adults take on part-time courses, and that a similar funding scheme is needed to help them stay in education, while not losing other state benefits.

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