Suzy Davies MS – Shadow Minister for Education, Skills and Welsh Language – has welcomed this year’s Adult Learners’ Week, which launches today (September 21), and is the largest adult learning campaign in Wales.
Its aim is to inspire and encourage thousands of adults each year to continue education and skills development in a wide variety of forms while helping to raise awareness of the value of adult learning.
Welsh Conservative Mrs Davies said:
“It’s been a hard time for many adult learners during lockdown, and so the slogan for this year’s campaign – #ChangeYour Story – couldn’t be more apt.
“I am a huge advocate for continuing education, and raising awareness of its benefits, and one sure way of doing this is by celebrating the achievements of learners and providers and inspiring more people to discover how learning can positively change their lives.
The Shadow Minister emphasised the impact the pandemic has had on education at all levels, saying:
“Lockdown has meant we cannot do communal learning as we used to. Nothing beats face to face learning, and so it will be interesting to find out how many people have revived their Welsh learning or picked up new skills in an online and virtual setting during lockdown.”
Mrs Davies pointed out the emphasis being placed on continuing and adult learning, highlighting the commitment to degree apprenticeships that a Welsh Conservative government would bring in, adding:
“Degree apprenticeships are at the heart of what a Welsh Conservative government would do to improve and modernise adult learning.
“We would invest £20 million into Further Education, upgrade our FE colleges and develop a STEM focused Institute of Technology in North Wales to connect high quality teaching to business and industry, and would also create an adult learning allowance to use on a degree, technical training, or specific courses.
“We would ensure that our plans would work for leaners and alike, driving forward the world of work in Wales, improving the national economy, creating a highly-skilled and flexible workforces, and helping to unleash Wales’ potential.”
For more information on how to get the most out of Adult Learners’ Week, click here.