U3A CRITICISES MANDELSON SPEECH

“We have heard today not a word about the sort of learning that makes out society better, only about the sort of learning that may make it wealthier.”

Ian Searle, chairman of the University of the Third Age, said today (Tuesday): 

“Business Secretary Lord Mandelson spoke today as though the only purpose of education is to serve the needs of business.  Since his department swallowed up the functions of the former Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills in the early summer, we have hardly had a word from our Secretary of State about education as a vital component of a civilised society; or about education for citizenship; or about learning for pleasure.

“We have heard today not a word about the sort of learning that makes our society better, only about the sort of learning that may perhaps make it wealthier.

“Lord Mandelson says that business must have more influence over the education system.  It should certainly influence those areas of it which provide the specialist skills business needs.  My fear is that the Business Secretary, who is now responsible for all higher and further education, thinks that is all there is. 

“Lord Mandelson wants business to be ‘better at communicating its needs, so that the system can respond and our universities are not left to make educated guesses about what business wants.’ He wants a system targeted on delivering what business needs.  Meanwhile there is bound to be concern that adult education, liberal education, education for elderly people, will be starved of resources, attention and respect.”

ENDS

NOTE FOR EDITORS
The University of the Third Age was founded in 1982 to enable older people to organise their own learning.  It works on the self-help principle, and is run democratically by its members, with officers and a national executive elected at the annual general meeting.

FURTHER INFORMATION
Francis Beckett, 020 8349 9194 or 07813 001372.
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