The TUC has submitted its response to the government consultation on proposals to reform the further education funding system and to establish new accountability measures.
We have repeated our warnings that the country is already facing a skills crisis and that there is a need for urgent action on a much greater scale than the policy framework set out in this consultation and the skills white paper. The TUC has set out detailed critiques of the skills white paper in unionlearn’s regular skills policy bulletins and also in our recent response to the government’s consultation on the National Skills Fund.
In response to the consultation on FE funding and accountability, the TUC response makes the following key points:
- A reformed and simplified adult skills funding system will achieve little unless it is accompanied by a significant long-term increase in funding levels and a major expansion of skills entitlements
- Adults need to be empowered to access a simplified skills system and this would be greatly facilitated by the introduction of lifelong learning accounts setting out their education and skills entitlements and the range of financial and learning support available to them. Renewed government support for union learning would also boost engagement in learning
- Well intentioned plans to simplify the college funding system may trigger a number of unintended consequences, including increasing the barriers to learning and employment faced by certain groups. Any new measures to simplify funding should be tested rigorously to ensure that this is avoided
- The proposed accountability and outcome regime for colleges is highly flawed because of the sole remit given to employer bodies and the lack of any reference to the role of trade unions and other stakeholders. A reformed model should balance the needs of employers, learners and workers by widening stakeholder engagement and influence regarding college provision
- The definition of eligible outcomes for the proposed accountability system should be widened out to prevent a focus largely linked to employer skill needs. The list of outcomes should be reframed to encompass progression to good jobs, enabling adults to contribute to the wider economy and society, helping them to lead enriched and fulfilling lives, and improving their health and well being
- The increased focus on employers’ skills needs also risks reinforcing and deepening the discrimination and barriers faced by certain groups. Instead, priority should be given to developing a college accountability system that focuses on narrowing inequalities in participation and outcomes.