Support scheme to improve skills

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Posted by 1163639 Thu, 27/03/2008 - 18:11

Education and Lifelong Learning Secretary Fiona Hyslop said the changes would also ensure ILA Scotland is well placed to support individual and workforce development, principal aims of the recently published Skills Strategy.

Key changes for the ILA Scotland scheme, aimed at targeting those who don't readily access education, include:

  • Opening the scheme to 16 and 17-year-olds
  • Removing the requirement for a minimum personal contribution
  • Widening course eligibility to allow funding for work-related courses
  • Tightening course eligibility to remove postgraduate courses
  • Withdrawing the ILA100 which is open to all adults, regardless of income
  • Tightening learner eligibility to restrict funding for pensioners not on low incomes

Ms Hyslop said:

"Providing the right support for learners is vital if we are to ensure we have a workforce with the skills that both employers and our country need for a successful future.

"That's why we are widening the scope of the scheme, notably by including 16 and 17 year olds and work-related courses.

"I believe it's right that we should target our support at those who need it most and those who might not otherwise have become involved in learning.

"The evaluation published today shows that ILAs are a valued and useful tool to promote lifelong learning and I'm sure the changes announced today will enhance this further."

Research on individual learning accounts - Evaluation of Individual Learning Accounts Scotland - Learners Study - is published today. The research was commissioned in October 2004 to evaluate ILAs from the learners' perspective.

Among the key findings of the research are:

  • Information and communication technologies was the most common subject for an ILA Scotland funded course
  • Most learners who had been on an ILA Scotland funded course said it had met, or exceeded their expectations

The changes announced today are expected to be in place for autumn enrolment, although the minimum personal contribution is not expected to be removed until early 2009.

  • Further information about the ILA Scotland scheme

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