ADULT EDUCATION

That this House recognises the valuable role that adult education plays and the positive impact it has on individuals, the economy and society; notes with concern that funding for adult education was cut by 40 per cent in real terms between 2010 and 2015; further notes with concern that the number of adult learners fell by 10.8 per cent between 2014 and 2015; notes with concern that the number of adults achieving Level 4 or above qualifications fell by 75 per cent from 2013 to 2015; notes with regret that while this House has discussed education on over 300 occasions since 2010 very little parliamentary time has been dedicated to debating adult education; believes that addressing the UK's skills gap requires investment in adult education to enable adults to retrain throughout their lives; further believes that in the context of an ageing society and a modern economy in which people are more likely to change jobs and careers this is an issue that requires urgent attention; therefore calls on the Government to publish its new approach to lifetime learning as promised in its Post-16 Skills Plan; and calls on the Government to invest in adult education to create an adult education system that is fit to meet the challenges of the modern economy and equip people with the skills that they need.