Community learning participation has fallen by almost 50 per cent in the last year, new statistics published by the Department for Education today reveal.
Around 91,600 adults participated in community learning between August and October 2020, compared to 176,300 in the same period in 2019 - a fall of 48 per cent.
The biggest drop in participation occurred in family english maths and language provision - where it dropped from 12 per cent to -68.7 per cent. Wider family learning dropped from 6.6 per cent to -67 per cent, personal and community development learning dropped from -13.7 per cent to -45.2 per cent, and neighbourhood learning in deprived communities dropped from 10 per cent to -56.2 per cent.
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Government-funded adult education too saw a decrease in participation, from 1,132,700 to 970,800 - a decrease of 14.3 per cent.
In December 2020, the Education Select Committee called for a revolution in adult education and skills, urging the government to introduce a community learning centre in every town as well as individual learning accounts for everyone.
Participation in adult education is at its lowest rate in 23 years, and funding in adult skills has declined by 45 per cent in the past decade, warns the report.
Research published by the Learning and Work Institute found that 44 per cent of adults in lower socioeconomic groups had taken part in any form of learning in the past three years, compared with 74 per cent of those in the highest socioeconomic groups.
Sue Pember, director of Policy at adult education membership organisation Holex, said that the fall is not unexpected.
She said: “Many adult learners were not able to move online because of a lack of digital devices. Also many of the community centres and schools where adult education takes place were closed and therefore they were not able to physically attend.
“We are worried that certain groups have been been more affected than others and we will be reviewing how we can support those students.”
Stephen Evans, chief executive of Learning and Work Institute said: ‘The pandemic had a predictably stark impact on participation in learning. But this comes after a decade of cuts that has left millions fewer adults in learning. The government is now starting to increase investment again and our research shows people have a real interest in learning, with an explosion of online and lockdown learning. We need to build on that to make this a decade of renewal, with increased investment and a lifelong learning strategy.’
Simon Parkinson, chief executive of the WEA said that the inability to deliver face-to-face teaching through the various lockdowns has impacted on student numbers.
He said: “At WEA, we never closed to students, members and volunteers. In fact we were more open than ever given the move to online. We have been delighted with the take up of our online offering, with over 6000 students studying online last academic year.
“Our hearts were warmed by the positive feedback about the courses and their impact, supporting our students to deliver skills and stay connected through challenging times. The extra support we have provided to those with few digital skills to embrace this opportunity has been gratefully received. That said a lack of digital devices and connectivity have been a barrier to take up.
“We look to build and grow our online student base in future, but still look forward to re-opening our classroom doors. While our online learners celebrate their experience, we know that many people in the harder-to-reach communities we wish to serve will need the extra support and personal touch which comes from face-to-face teaching, to encourage them to over-come their lack of confidence and to embrace adult learning for the first time.”
