Leading academics, politicians and campaigners have today launched a new “Right 2 Learn” Campaign – calling for a new entitlement that enables access to skills and learning courses for both younger and older adult learners.

In the wake of the COVID pandemic and Chancellor’s forecast of 2.6 million out of work by next spring, the new campaign will press for millions of adults to be given the right to access learning to reskill and retrain for new employment and future careers as well as for personal development.

‘Right 2 Learn’ is a new, progressive and independent campaign which will argue for a lifelong statutory right to fully funded learning and training for every adult throughout their lives.

The campaign’s launch statement says that:

the legacy of COVID will accelerate changes already underway such as digitisation, automation and transition to a new green economy, as well as a post Brexit UK ... and with over 4 million fewer adults participating in education now than in 2020, we will need a huge push to support and reskill millions of those most at risk of being left behind, both in the next 12 months and throughout the 2020s”.

The launch is accompanied by a letter of support for the Right to Learn with signatories drawn from across the worlds of education, skills, training and lifelong learning including former ministers, academics and advocates including TUC President Gale Cartmail, former unionlearn Director Tom Wilson.

The campaign has been endorsed by former Prime Minister Gordon Brown who says he;

welcomes the launch of the Right 2 Learn initiative” and that “more than ever, the right of everyone to learn has to be championed by all.”

There will be a dedicated Right 2 Learn online platform which will feature regular blogs, discussion and comment. Right 2 Learn has taken as its inspiration one of the key recommendations of the Lifelong Learning Commission report ‘The Future is ours to Learn’ published last November which called for a publicly funded minimum entitlement to study up to Level 3 (equivalent to A Levels) and 6 years publicly funded credits at Level 4 and upwards for full, part time or modular learning.

Former Shadow HE, FE and Skills Minister Gordon Marsden said: 

At this critical time, when Government is preparing for an FE White Paper and responding to the Augar report, it is vital to have a vision that can cut across the traditional silos which often hamper collaboration. We need a Right to Learn strategy to break down barriers and transform life chances for people-getting millions of people the basic skills they lack, and allowing them and others to progress to crucial Levels 2 and 3, alongside the chance to acquire higher technical skills at Levels 4 and above, as well as traineeships and apprenticeships.

We need to involve every part of the post 18 educational landscape in that journey. Universities, FE colleges, skills and learning providers, as well as employers, trade unions, the third sector and existing informal and lifelong learning networks all have a part to play - with a key delivery role for devolved local and regional elected mayors, combined authorities and others wherever appropriate.”

VIcky Duckworth, Professor of Education at Edge Hill University and co-leader of the Transforming Lives project, said:

We want Right2Learn to be a driver for change, helping to empower communities and individuals’ life chances. Via our online platform we are establishing a forum that will give a voice for existing and potential new initiatives and be a focal point for some of the amazing projects for skills and learning going forward not just in England but across the UK’.

Matt Waddup, former head of Policy and Campaigns at UCU, said:

Right2Learn will promote skills and learning not just to help adults to keep their jobs now, but to give them enabling skills that will help them get new jobs in new sectors. Access to education is vital not just for our economy and productivity but to heal divisions in our society, especially all those disadvantaged and left behind. That access must include, as well, the millions of people who will be self-employed, or working in small businesses and co-operatives in the decade ahead”.

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

Trade unions are dedicated to supporting the learning of their members. But some employers don’t support learning time or provide workplace learning opportunities. A statutory Right to Learn would help drive positive change in workplaces, allowing every worker the opportunity to improve their skills and progress in their career.”

Further information on the campaign can be found at “Right 2 Learn”.