Later this month we expect the publication of the Learning & Skills Council's (LSC) new priorities. Last year we were pleased that the Specialist Designated Institutions (SDIs)were specifically mentioned within the context of Personal & Community Development Learning (PCDL). But what are SDIs and what is PCDL?
The Specialist Designated Institutions are a group of colleges, including the WEA, that have clear and longstanding mission to use adult education to changing the lives of individuals and communities - click here to see more.
Personal & Community Development Learning is that strand of provision that has been identified as needing safeguarding as the FE sector is increasingly expected to focus its resources and effort on skills for employability. SDI work is sometimes called 'PCDL type' provision.
One of the key aspects of PCDL provision is to build local planning partnerships and to listen to communities when organising provision. These partnerships are being established all over England and the WEA can, in theory, join any of them and shape their direction. Not easy when there could be over 140 in place!
The principals of the SDIs met with John Denham the new Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills in October. He is committed to the importance of ensuring everyone has the skills needed to succeed in the future and sees that as major challenge that can't be avoided. He also sees it as a matter of social justice and is interested in the 'social role of skills in adult education'. He argued that giving chances to people who hadn't had them before is vital and this requires a tightening and focusing of the education system for those over 16. We feel he recognised that this can cause some unexpected consequences - for example - for provision for adults and in the voluntary sector. He asked the SDIs to think how our experience, and our mission, could help the government deliver its clear agenda.
Can it? Can the WEA reconcile its history and working arrangements with the current agenda? There is always the temptation to say no; that we are different or do things differently. At the same time, the origins of the WEA are absolutely around increasing opportunities for adults in education and to help them influence and shape their education and, from that, be more able to influence their lives and the world around them.
Is that fair? If it is, how can we make sure it's part of every activity the WEA does? If it was, wouldn't we be able to have confidence if we need to defend our work to others who fund or inspect us?
PCDL could become a sideline area, a 'safeguard' because otherwise it would disappear or be left to the better off. Isn't it the job of the WEA, with our SDI colleagues, to influence the shape of this kind of work by practically showing its benefits in the classroom, by engaging with partnerships locally or beyond on our terms and by advocating the importance of education to adults?
What do you think? What are the three or four key messages we should say to every WEA class, every tutor, the LSC and the government. Let me know! Click 'comment'.
What worries me as a WEA tutor is this emphasis on improving our students' 'employability'. Everyone of my learners is retired! They come to keep their grey matter well exercised, not for more qualifications. The government and WEA seem to forget this vast and valuable section of the learning community.
Posted by: Toni Mount | 11/12/2007 at 01:32 PM