2 Reaching potential learners and
helping them to progress
9. Ufi's approach to reaching large numbers of learners,
many in high priority groups, has been based on the results of
research into what was putting potential learners off. It has
tried to reduce barriers by providing a relatively private form
of learning for people who had previously felt embarrassed in
the classroom, and by enabling people to learn in manageable 'chunks'
that can be fitted in with their personal and work commitments.
Of the total 1.7 million learners up to July 2005, around 16%
were either unemployed or returning to work after time out of
the workplace. learndirect has been successful in attracting learners
from ethnic minorities: the percentage of ethic minority learners
is higher than the percentage in the population. It has attracted
large numbers of 'reluctant learners': survey results indicate
that almost two-thirds of learners had undertaken no learning
in the last three years and a quarter would not have undertaken
any learning without learndirect.[10]
10. In 2004-05 around 60% of learners enrolling stated
that they were pre-level 2 qualified (compared with around 30%
for all adult learners). Relatively few have been taking up adult
level 2 and adult literacy and numeracy qualifications that are
priorities for the Department, and after the first three years,
the Department asked learndirect to refocus on these areas and
realign its business towards level 2 activity. Ufi plans to increase
learndirect's contribution to the Department's literacy and numeracy
target and help learners to progress to level 2 qualifications
covering a wide range of subjects (Figure 3). It substantially
exceeded its targets for enrolments by pre-level 2 qualified learners
and literacy and numeracy learners in 2004-05, by 220 and 85%
respectively. The Department considers that learndirect is now
one of the best literacy and numeracy providers in the country.
Some of the businesses that learndirect is working with have shown
an interest in the literacy and numeracy diagnostic assessment
and online support for their employees.[11]
Figure
3: Ufi has set targets to increase its contribution towards level
2 qualifications and literacy and numeracy test passes
11. Ufi is balancing its first priority of getting
reluctant learners to take up learning who may have no aspirations
to gain a qualification at level 2, with the need to move learners
on to improve their skills by gaining a level 2 qualification.
As shown in Figure 3, Ufi's plans to increase the number of pre-level
2 learners progressing to level 2 courses with other providers
will involve doubling the currently low progression to 19% of
pre-level 2 learners (65,000 learners a year by 2010). Ufi is
also developing its own courses so that it can deliver 8,000 full
level 2 qualifications a year through learndirect by 2010.[12]
12. The percentage of learners completing courses
is improving - course completions increased from 44% in 2001-02
to over 70% in 2004-05. In 2004-05, 50% of learners achieved their
objectives, and the percentage varies regionally from 47 to 70%
(Figure 4). This statistic may, however, be under-stated.
To meet funding rules, where there is no evidence that a learner
has achieved their objectives (such as evidence they are able
to use pivot tables following an Excel spreadsheet course), they
are deemed, for data collection purposes, not to have achieved
them. However, in some cases the learner may actually have met
their objectives, but the evidence of achievement has not been
retained.[13]
Figure
4: Overall over 70% of learners completed their courses and over
50% achieved their objectives in 2004-05
13. Some smaller learndirect centres are struggling,
particularly those in rural areas and centres dealing with marginalised
and disadvantaged learners who require high levels of support.
IT connectivity across the UK is not an issue, since 99.6% of
the UK is now covered by broadband, but the cost of delivery is
an issue in certain areas where there is low population density.
One benefit of e-learning is that a physical centre can be replaced
by another method of outreach to the learner.[14]
14. The National Advice Line Service attracts a relatively
large number of calls from 'hard-to-reach' learners - over half
of callers (58%) had not undertaken any learning in the last three
years compared with less than 25% of the wider population. The
Department set a target for 2003-04 of 0.5 million calls from
people who are pre-level 2 qualified, reflecting its emphasis
on learners without a level 2 qualification, but Ufi achieved
only 63% of the target. In 2004-05 the number of calls fell, and
Ufi achieved only 54% of that year's target of 0.45 million.[15]
15. A third of all calls come via the help lines
of a range of partner organisations, including the BBC and ITV,
six sector skills councils, the Learning and Skill Council's Apprenticeship
campaign, the Department's 'Get On' (Gremlins - literacy and numeracy)
campaign, and the National Institute for Adult Continuing Education.
Some of the shortfall may reflect calls taken on behalf of campaigns,
which may drop in a particular year where the proposed launch
date for a campaign is changed. Ufi has agreed a target of 0.3
million calls with the Learning and Skills Council for 2005-06.
Website contacts are growing at about 20% a year.[16]
10 C&AG's Report, paras 3.11-3.12; Qq 15, 22 Back
11
C&AG's Report, paras 3.11-12, 3.28 and Figures 21, 27; Qq
19, 21, 33, 35 Back
12
C&AG's Report, para 3.28; Qq 8-10, 30, 85 Back
13
C&AG's Report, para 3.14; Qq 4-6 Back
14
C&AG's Report, para 2.30; Qq 12, 27 Back
15
C&AG's Report, para 3.5 Back
16
ibid, paras 2.7, 3.5; Qq 82-84 Back
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