The Rights Stuff Y Stwff Hawliau adult education is a permanent - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

The Rights Stuff Y Stwff Hawliau

‘…adult education is a permanent national necessity, an inseparable aspect of citizenship, and therefore should be both universal and lifelong.’

Ministry of Reconstruction Adult Education Committee, Final Report, 1919

Low turnout in elections Skills deficits In-work poverty Deprivation Socio- cultural fissures exposed by Brexit Future impact of Brexit on economy Gig economy Growth of ‘precariat’ Lack of employer investment in training Social isolation & loneliness Future impact of AI Poor health & diet Decline in levels of mental health Populist politics Decline in trust in institutions Ageing workforce Employer demand for ‘plug in & play’ workers

Adult education/LL as non-universal element

• f social policy

(focus on basic skills) LL as direct intervention in economic development, labour market & skills policies LL as part of wider policies in community development, health & well- being, community cohesion LL as driver of active citizenship, democratic participation

Leakage of public value due to fragmentation Unbalanced investment across sectors Duty re younger age but not for adults

Reinforces cultural divide(s) Poor relation Silos: absence of coherence Poorly visible to politicians

Fundamental purpose ill-defined

LL simply passes many people by ACL even poorer relation Grant- chasing

Discourse(s) of rights

Children's rights Brexit & future of HRA Rights of

• lder

people Clear red water

Entitlements via ‘progressive universalism’

Politics of Welsh language NHS: right to free healthcare at point of delivery LL in practice:

(did creation of OU establish a de facto right?)

Community as an idea Absence of Welsh legal jurisdiction Collectivist politics Notion of inclusivity as driver of Assembly Social class as main driver of Welsh politics Right seen as belonging to whole nation

‘UNESCO believes that education is a human right for all throughout life and that access must be matched by quality. We agree.’

Puts power into hands

• f learners

Embeds lifelong learning Broadens definition

• f

education

A right to lifelong learning

Re-thinking purpose(s) & possibilities

1

Re-balancing between pre-19 and adults

2

Conceptualising LL in the round, rather than as fragmented adjuncts to other activity

3

Re-balancing across policy portfolios to capture wider benefits & public value

4 5

Re-balancing re coherence across & within providers

6

Re-balancing between LL as (targeted)compensation, and LL as a positive right

• r entitlement

Learner Employer State Targeted Universal offer Economy Wider purpose Market offer Local planning National planning Generic age offer Bespoke for life stages Means-tested Universal Quals-based Non-quals Right to decline Obligation Broad geographical consistency of coverage Welsh medium offer Implementable & affordable Right /entitlement to LL (‘progressive universalism)’

Questions + discussion