EDUCATION FOR THE GOOD SOCIETY - Support

4 Engineering flexibility: a system ofcredit and encouraging part-timersFaster progress is needed to implement a creditbasedsystem, and to support people to combinestudy with other activities. We should movequickly to implement fully a coherent system ofcredits as the basis for organising post-compulsorylearning.5 Improving the quality of workThe debate on skills has been too dominated byan emphasis on increasing the volume of skills.There should be a stronger focus on how skillsare actually used. We need increased understandingof the kinds of work environment whichencourage formal and informal learning as ameans of raising performance and productivity.6 Constructing a framework for acitizens’ curriculumA common framework should be created oflearning opportunities, aimed at enhancingpeople’s control over their own lives. An agreedframework for a citizens’ curriculum should bedeveloped, built initially around a set of fourcapabilities: digital, health, financial and civic,together with employability.7 Broadening and strengthening thecapacity of the lifelong learning workforceStronger support should be available for all thoseinvolved in delivering education and training.There should be a broad definition of who makesup the lifelong learning workforce, includingschoolteachers and early years practitioners, andlearning support staff.8 Reviving local responsibility…The current system in England has become overcentralised,and insufficiently linked to localand regional needs. We should restore life andpower to local levels. The idea of local learningexchanges should be developed to connect peopleas socially networked learners, and to providespaces for local groups to engage in learning.9 …within national frameworksThere should be effective machinery forcreating a coherent national strategy across theUK, and within the UK’s four nations. A singledepartment should have the lead responsibility forpromoting lifelong learning, with cross-governmenttargets for lifelong learning.10 Making the system intelligentThe system will only flourish with consistentinformation and evaluation, and open debateabout the implications. A three-yearly reporton the state of learning should be published,covering major trends and issues, includingevidence collected by and submitted to internationalbodies. We need stronger and broaderanalysis of the benefits and costs of lifelonglearning over time, and systematic experimentationon what works.48 | www.compassonline.org.uk