Over the past four years, the present Conservative Government has painstakingly navigated the legislative process to establish what was initially termed a Lifelong Loan Entitlement.
A crucial shift then occurred at the eleventh hour.
It became evident that the concept of an entitlement to a loan, particularly during times of financial strain, would not resonate positively with the public.
In response, the government opted for a rebranding. The Lifelong Loan Entitlement became the Lifelong Learning Entitlement.
Although substituting the word entitlement for the word loan may be a clever marketing move, it fools no-one.
Misappropriating lifelong learning
In effect, the government is misappropriating the term lifelong learning.
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement as defined by the government collapses lifelong learning to Level 4-6, and specifically Level 4-6 lifelong learning funded through loans.
And yet, lifelong learning is universally acknowledged as a comprehensive framework encompassing individuals of all ages, learning at all levels – from basic skills to PhDs and Level 1 to Level 8 – and learning in all environments.
It commences from birth and extends throughout life, emphasising the belief that continuous knowledge acquisition and skills development are essential for economic growth, societal progress and individual fulfilment.
Still a loan for level 4-6 lifelong learning
In essence, the Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a policy which aims to redistribute the burden of post-18 Level 4-6 lifelong learning education from the state to individuals.
It signals the launch of an overhauled loan facility underpinned by a new electronic account system. This electronic account system will serve all students, including graduate programmes, and replace existing systems. Consequently, it will come with all the inherent costs and risks associated with large-scale IT change programmes.
Every learner will have a Personal (Lifelong) Learning Account to manage their Lifelong Learning Entitlement worth £37,000 in today’s prices to fund Level 4-6 lifelong learning.
But whatever the label says on the tin, the Lifelong Learning Entitlement is still a loan. And it will not take long for young and older adults to spot that the Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a loan for learning.
Flexibilities limited to level 4-6 lifelong learning
The introduction of loan funding for modules of Level 4-6 higher education is certainly welcome.
Modularised funding, however, is unlikely to alter the preferences of 18 and 19 year olds, who prefer the immersive experience of a traditional three-year programme, to getting a job and combining it with part-time modularised learning.
Yet, it could provide a more agile system for older learners aged 21 and over who are employed and seek a non-traditional approach to education. Even so, this raises the question of which programmes should be modularised and whether there is a sound business case for providers to make these changes.
And the fact remains, the debate on modules and credits is firmly fixed in relation to Level 4-6 higher education. There is nothing on how such reforms might benefit lifelong learning and Level 3 and below.
Basic concerns
A key concern of the present policy is the age limit on accessing loans for Level 4-6 lifelong learning. Access is restricted to individuals aged under 60. This is seemingly at odds with longer working lives and a state pension age rising to 67 from 2027/28. Older workers would benefit from learning new skills to ease them into a new occupation until state pension age and indeed beyond.
Another concern is complexity. Adults seeking to reskill at Level 3 will still have access to Adult Learner Loans. And so, post-18 education in England will have two separate loan systems – one for Level 4-6 and another for Level 3 – despite both being income contingent and operating on the same basis.
Not a ‘universal’ lifelong learning entitlement
Nothing, however, gets away from the from the fact that the Lifelong Learning Entitlement is not a universal Lifelong Learning Entitlement.
The policy excludes coverage for Level 3 or below programmes, both grant and loan funded.
It neglects to provide maintenance support for these adult learners on Level 3 and below courses. Even the government accepts that adults can only study Level 4-6 modular courses with maintenance.
It fails to align with other lifelong learning platforms, including adult basic literacy, numeracy, and digital programs.
And it represents yet another fragmented initiative, whereas what is urgently required is a cohesive strategy that unites all government efforts to plan for the country's future skills needs.
A stepping-stone?
Maybe, just maybe, a cunning plan lurks behind this highly restrictive Lifelong Learning Entitlement.
Get the Lifelong Learning Entitlement and Personal Learning Account system managing Level 4-6 lifelong learning up and running, and then it could be a stepping-stone to a universal Lifelong Learning Entitlement further down the track.
The adult and community learning sector truly hopes so.
Dr. Susan Pember is Policy Director at HOLEX